A new pope may emerge miraculously from an Easter Kinder Egg according to Vatican sources.
The possibility of an unprecedented 'Kinder Egg Pope' is growing as controversy mounts over the circumstances of Pope Benedict XVI's retirement and with Cardinal Keith O'Brien and other cardinals being urged not to attend the election of a new pope.
'It would be a novel and appropriate method of electing a new pope at Easter, the season for eggs,' said catholic theologian Dr Hans Brandt, ' and in keeping with the modern world.
'It would show the church reaching out and touching children in an appropriate way for a change.'
Dr Brandt pointed out that the Kinder Egg has a German name and is of German origin and so carries on the Benedict line.
'At the same time it is made by Italian manufacturer Ferrero and thus makes, as expected, an Italian pope more likely.'
But Vatican spokesman Cardinal Keith O'Brien-O'Brady-O'Shaughnessey-O'Murphy-O'Reilly, said a Kinder Egg pope could equally be from Africa 'on account of the outer colour of the Kinder Egg'.
However, as Kinder Eggs are banned in the USA on the grounds that they are a choking hazard, an American pope is unlikely.
It's also believed that a Kinder Egg Pope would have no need for a popemobile.
Catholics across the world are being asked to pray for the miracle of a Kinder Egg Pope.
'The faithful are excited at the idea of a Pope Kinder the First,' said Dr Brandt, 'and hopefully of seeing him assembled correctly.'
'God moves in mysterious ways,' said a spokeswoman for Cadbury.
