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"Bureaucracies hide their mistakes, because people's careers are tied to those mistakes. Therefore, bureaucracies are a perfect mechanism for perpetuating mistakes."
- Frank Herbert

Robot Pope  
  An artificially intelligent robotic cardinal ascends to the Throne of St. Peter.  

It can often be difficult to choose a new pope; factions within the Vatican argue with passion. Sometimes, a compromise candidate is the only answer.

"If he's elected," says Rabbi Mueller, "he plans an immediate time-sharing agreement with the Dalai Lama and a reciprocal plug-in with the head programmer of the Greek Orthodox church, just for starters..."

"What does he look like?" Miss Harshaw asks.

Rabbi Mueller removes his sunglasses... "I can tell you that his Eminency is tall and distinguished, with a fine voice and a gentle smile..."

"But he's mounted on wheels, isn't he?" Kenneth persists.

"On treads," replies the rabbi, giving Kenneth a fiery, devastating look. "Treads, like a tractor has. But I don't think treads are spiritually inferior to feet, or, for that matter, to wheels..."

From Good News From the Vatican, by Robert Silverberg.
Published by Unknown in 1971
Additional resources -

Some people hope that a robot pope will encourage technologically-minded young people to join the Church.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Good News From the Vatican
  More Ideas and Technology by Robert Silverberg
  Tech news articles related to Good News From the Vatican
  Tech news articles related to works by Robert Silverberg

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  - Robot 'Minister' Performs Wedding Ceremony

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