Is the Pope Jewish?

Does anyone know if the Pope is Jewish? There are a lot of Jews in Poland. Can one be both Jewish and Polish? His name sounds Jewish. I've seen him wear a yarmulke. Does that make him Jewish? He looks Jewish.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

In

Poland.

him wear

Actually, you are right. He was Jewish. Then he converted to the Catholic faith and now he is number #1 in the religion - just think what could happen if the entire cast of Seinfeld converted! The show would last forever!!! ;)

You ask a reasonably facetious question, and it may be appropriate to all the silly intensity of the "debate" over George' et als Jewishness, but.. 2 serious answers to your sarcastic question are in order. First, you atate that there are a lot of Jews in Poland. This was once true, and prior to the WW2 Poland had the largest Jewish population in the world. However, most of the Jews of Poland were killed by the Nazis with the survivors mostly emigrating. That leaves about a few thousand (maybe) mostly elderly Jews left in Poland today. The other question regarding Jewish popes also has validity believe it or not. In the 16th century the Pierleone family supplied a couple of popes. This family was originally an Italian Jewish family that had converted to Catholicism. While they were no longer "Jewish" they certainly did have Jewish antecedents. Read all about it in a book called "Popes From the Ghetto" by Joachim Prinz. Sorry to be so pedantic at what was obviously meant to be a humorous question, but to paraphrase you, I couldn't resist. (And besides its all true)