Fake Bishop Attempts To Sneak Into Secret Pope Meeting

His cunning disguise included a too-short cassock, a black fedora in the place of a skullcap and a sash that was actually a purple scarf.

A German man disguised as a bishop snuck into the Vatican Monday as part of an attempt to infiltrate the secret pre-conclave meetings of the Church officials who will choose the next pope.

Ralph Napierski (L) managed to pass at least one level of security and even posed for a photo with Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president emeritus of the Vatican’s Prefecture for Economic Affairs. Image by VINCENZO PINTO / Getty Images

Fake bishop Ralph Napierski claimed to be a bishop of the (non-existent) German Catholic Order “Corpus Dei,” according to Italian news agency ANSA.

[Source: USA Today] Via: facebook.com

Seems legit.

Via: facebook.com

According to the “Corpus Dei” website, it is an order “after episcopal [sic] law” that is “defending the catholic [sic] faith inside the church against heretics that are inside the church” and working to “unite all christians [sic] under the cross.”

Via: thecorpusdei.wordpress.com

The “Corpus Dei” website lists “Bishop Ralph Napierski” as its founder and states that he is also an “internet activist and hacker for information freedom and information security.”

Via: thecorpusdei.files.wordpress.com

Napierski is also involved with “Jesus Yoga,” which claims to promote “the ancient and hidden techniques of Christian meditation.”

Via: jesusyoga.weebly.com

This does not appear to be the first time that Napierski has snuck into high-profile meetings of the Catholic Church. He posted a picture on his Facebook page of him and leading papal contender Cardinal Peter Turkson.

Via: facebook.com

On Monday, after he cleared the first level of security, Napierski mingled with Cardinals and various officials for half an hour outside the auditorium where the top-secret meeting was to take place.

Image by L'Osservatore Romano / AP

He introduced himself as “Basilius” to the reporters and Cardinals outside the auditorium and claimed to be a bishop in the Italian Orthodox Church (which also doesn’t exist).

Image by Osservatore Romano / Reuters

Security grew suspicious of Napierski’s strange garb, which included a “too-short cassock, a black fedora in place of a clergy’s skull cap and a bright purple-pink sash” that turned out to be a scarf and stopped him as he entered the meeting.

Source: USA Today Image by VINCENZO PINTO / Getty Images

Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, would not comment on Napierski’s alleged attempt to enter the congregations. “All I can say is that everyone seated for the congregation is a real cardinal,” he said.

Source: USA Today Image by Max Rossi / Reuters