Papal hopeful shows he can work the crowd ahead of vote

IT had all the hallmarks of a political campaign: the candidate was shaking hands in the adoring crowd, a television crew and security detail covering his every move.

Except that this is no regular election, and the people don’t vote.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Archbishop of Genoa and a papal contender, was working the crowd outside St Peter’s Basilica this morning, greeting some of the tens of thousands of pilgrims who had lined up to pay their final respects to Pope John Paul.