Comedian Stephen Colbert joked about Pope Francis’s legendary humility and Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s waistline during a speech at the annual Al Smith charity dinner in New York last week.
Cardinal Dolan roared with laughter as the presenter of the Colbert Report teased him at the dinner, which raised $3m (£1.9m, €2.2m) for charity.
“I have great respect for Cardinal Dolan,” Mr Colbert said, “though I do have to say, sir, it is not easy when you’re wearing that outfit. In that cape with the red sash you look like a matador who’s really let himself go. Did you not see the invite? It said ‘white-tie’ not ‘flamboyant Zorro’.”
He continued: “Early this year he came this close to being selected Pope. But he blew it in the swimsuit competition. I’d have gone with the one-piece… Instead he was first runner-up. And that means of course that if Pope Francis tests positive for steroids, Dolan’s in. Cardinal, warm up your blessing arm in the papal bullpen.”
Mr Colbert, who revels in the title of “America’s most famous Catholic”, then turned to Pope Francis.
“Obviously as an observant Catholic, I believe the Pope is infallible,” he said. “But he’s also wrong about a lot of things. By the way, is the Pope here? Pope Francis, are you here? Because if you were we probably wouldn’t know because His Humbleness would be out washing the feet of the coat check guy or something. We get it, you’re modest.”
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