I think I've offended everyone in this.  Let me know if I've missed anyone off the list.  I'm not sure the world is ready for this story quite yet.

The Pope reached out, switched off the alarm and sat up silently on the edge of the bed. What day was it? She looked at the blister pack of the contraceptive pills by her bed. Friday.

Her husband stirred. "See you for lunch?" he asked muzzily.

She shook her head, running through what she could remember of today’s itinerary. "Nor dinner, I’m afraid. I’ll see you tonight, but don’t wait up special" she said, knowing that he would anyway.

She stepped into the bedroom, where one of the nuns had run her bath. She felt the usual pang of guilt at being waited on like this. She was perfectly happy to get herself ready, but they competed so hard for the honour of waiting on her. She slipped into the water and immersed herself, relaxing into the heat. She closed her eyes and recited her morning prayers, ducking her head under the water at the end as a mini baptism. She rose a new woman, ready for the new day.

When she was dry she slipped on her robe and entered her private anteroom. There a squad of nuns were dutifully waiting, murmuring their good mornings then fussing over her wardrobe.

Finally, when she was decent, she nodded to one of them (Sister Martha?). She opened the other door, and her secretary entered.

"Good morning, Your Holiness." Always so formal, even now. The two foundations of the Church: Faith and Tradition.

She smiled. "Good morning, Your Eminence."

The cardinal watched the nuns file out, then pulled the film screen from his com.

"We have a busy day, Your Holiness."

She knew he didn’t need the screen in front of him. He would have memorised it all, probably days before.

"Is the whole morning filled with committee reports?" she asked, knowing the answer, but hoping she was wrong.

"I’m afraid so, Your Holiness. Then we have lunch with the President of West America. As you know, the drought and fires have continued, and they need food relief. They are asking you if there is anything the Mother Church can do."

"Is there?"

"It seems that China wants to go to their aid, but cannot be seen to volunteer. To volunteer would put at risk their treaty with the USA, who still regards West America as being at civil war. However, if we put pressure on the Chinese they can supply aid and still save face. The Chinese government cannot afford to lose the Catholic vote in next year’s elections. Our official response will be that we will bring what influence we can to bear, though unofficially it is a ‘done deal’, as I believe it is called."

"What’s his name again?"

"Ahmed Martinez. He is married and has two children."

"Good afternoon, Mr President. How are your wife and children?" It helped her remember if she rehearsed it out loud. "His family is well, isn’t it?"

"Yes, Your Holiness. No problem asking about them. Then this afternoon we are meeting various bishops. Their details are on your com."

"Anything special I should note?"

"Monsignor Dupont will be amongst those you have private audiences with."

"He’s the atheist, right?"

"Technically, Your Holiness, he has not actually professed to be an atheist, but he has said that atheism is on a par with the true faith."

"And I am to admonish him?"

"You are of the opinion that atheism is not part of church doctrine, Your Holiness" he replied dryly. "It would be best if he concentrated on teaching church dogma, and not encourage people to leave the church.

"Then we have a meeting with representatives of the Jewish Nation." She could hear his sarcasm, almost completely hidden behind his formality. "That is to say, what is left of Israel in Tyre. We cannot interfere with the politics of the situation, but will continue our humanitarian aid. The State of Palestine has agreed to allow our people through their lines."

"And tonight I am eating dinner with representatives of the Federated European States?"

"Yes, Your Holiness. And it is most important that you do not mention Europe’s human rights record. Not if we don’t want them to start taxing us."

"Oh, they haven’t started all that again, have they?"

"It appears that some senate members are looking at charging back taxes as well, particularly the non-Catholic states. However, I am assured that this won’t happen, especially if we do not make waves."

She shook her head. So much routine. She had come into the office with such high hopes of reforming the Church, but there was so much tradition and formality to wade through. It was like trying to turn a great ship around. The inertia just kept it going. Sometimes it seemed that nothing had ever changed since Saint Peter first took office.

She sighed and nodded to her secretary. "OK. Lets get down to those reports, then."