Someone recently posted this charming picture of the former Cardinal Ratzinger enjoying a brewski.

It made me think that he probably misses the days when he could hoist a stein and kick back with his pals and let forth with a pre-papal belch as he wondered if there was a pub open late where he could play darts.  And it reminded me of the two pictures below, when the gentleman-cleric could dress in civies and act like a relatively normal human being. (Not the vicar of Christ! Not the successor to Peter!)   The only thing infallible was his sense of fashion.  (Nice double-breasted suit, Joe!)

Below, the man who would be pope is shown tickling the ivories with his brother. Just beneath that, he’s photographed with Karl Rahner. 

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