Now that Pope Benedict XVI has decided that being God's chosen spokeman on Earth is no longer for him, the religious world will once more find itself locked in debate as to who will take over, with towers of white smoke on the edge of everyone's minds in the coming weeks and months. The early favourite right now is apparently Ghana's Cardinal Peter Turkson, but that won't stop the speculation, so we're weighing in with our own (unconventional) choices from the world of film for people who could take over as the next Pope. Let's be honest, Preacher would be the most entertaining possible Pope, but noone's made a film for him yet, so the hands are tied on that one. Here's goes nothing...
5. Jericho Cane (End Of Days) - Arnold Schwarzenegger
A controversial place to start no doubt, but consider this: would you prefer another older gentleman who might be forced to retire out of concerns for his bodily health and strength, or do you want the Terminator himself, who has already locked horns with Satan and emerged just about victorious? In End Of Days, Arnie played the wonderful and ludicrously named Jericho Cane (not The Rock's Southland Tales character), a private security worker charged unwittingly with protecting the life of Satan (Gabriel Byrne) who is on his own quest to sire a son with the Chosen One (Robin Tunney), only for Cane to discover the truth and attempt to save Satan's would-be mate and the world. One grizzled ex-cop taking on the greatest spiritual evil known to religious Man, not only sending him back to Hell, but also fighting off a possession attempt to thwart Satan's devilish plan at one point. Who cares if he dies at the end, Cane should be promoted immediately to Pope.