"You have to wonder whether the bill that we will go to shortly is a serious exercise, " said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, shortly before the vote, as he a noted a procedural technicality could scuttle the bill even if the Senate did approve it.

CNN: Bush tax cut fight could derail Senate small-business bill

While the voting for the pope is billed as secret, with each cardinal guided only by his faith in God, the process is ultimately a closed-door exercise in consensus-building that cements fidelity to the Church's new leader among the inner circle.

NPR: Arcane Process Encourages Papal Horse Trading

The Russian leader, they argue, is using the Depardieu saga as a PR exercise for internal purposes.

CNN: Depardieu's puzzling love for Russia