An elderly Pope arrives in New York and is greeted at the airport by a sleek limousine. As he admires the car, he politely asks the driver for a favor—could he drive for a bit? The driver is stunned but feels he can’t refuse such a request, so he reluctantly switches seats. To his absolute shock, the Pope floors it, racing through the city streets at an incredible speed, far beyond the limit, clearly enjoying the rare freedom behind the wheel.
Before long, flashing lights appear and a police officer pulls the limo over. One look inside leaves the officer speechless. He steps back, radios his sergeant, and explains that he’s stopped someone very important. When asked if it’s someone like the mayor, the officer hesitates—because whoever is in that driver’s seat clearly outranks even that. The punchline, of course, is left hanging, making the joke all the more delightful as the listener imagines just how “important” the driver must be.
