"BEL GIORGIO" MAKES THE COVER OF "VANITY FAIR"

Now Georg Ganswein, the Pope's private secretary, has appeared on the cover of the Italian edition of Vanity Fair.

The 56-year-old, blue-eyed Bavarian, who was recently elevated to the rank of archbishop by Benedict XVI and wields ever greater influence within the Vatican, was placed on the cover of the latest edition of the magazine, which went on sale on Wednesday.

"It's not a sin to be handsome" the magazine wrote on its front cover, describing Father Ganswein as "the George Clooney of St Peter's".

Hmm.  Of course, it's no sin to be handsome.  Georg's hairline seems to be receding a bit, but bald can be beautiful, and he has a way to go.  The brand new archbishop and keeper of the pope's household admits to listening to Pink Floyd and Cat Stevens and wearing long hair in his teen years.  Georg is a pilot and a skier, a "man-of-action". Italians call him "Bel Giorgio".  I expect Georg will continue his quick climb up the hierarchical ladder.  He may even be pope one day.