Papal Conclave Delayed As Sistine Chapel Double Booked By Tour Group From Japan

THE MUCH anticipated election of a new pope has been delayed after the Vatican confirmed the Sistine Chapel is currently unavailable to the electing cardinals, having been booked months in advance by a tour guide.

“Wow, this is a real oversight, boy do we have egg on our faces,” said German Cardinal Rolf Wasser.

“Yes, the work of the Church must be done but a booking is a booking, it must be honoured” offered Swedish Cardinal Nils Nilsson of the tour group which is expected to set a record for ignoring the ‘please no photography or filming inside the Sistine Chapel’ notices.

Cardinals had left their quarters this morning and made their way to the Sistine Chapel only to be greeted by an insistent Japanese tour group who denied the clergy entry while excitedly pointing at print out tickets detailing the fact they had a private tour of the Chapel booked.

“And here’s where the next Pope will be elected once you guys have finished taking 10,000 photos you will never look at again,” the tour guide was heard saying to the tour group as a queue of cardinals waited patiently outside.

Catholics gathered in St Peter’s Square momentarily erupted in joyous applause at what they initially thought was white smoke emanating from a chimney in the chapel which actually turned out to be an extendable selfie stick; the universally accepted sign that there is a tour group in operation in the Sistine Chapel.

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