What did the pope’s mechanic say?

Pope Francis gets a look at his “new” classic Renault. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Catholic Press Photo)

VATICAN CITY — Leave it to the slapstick brothers, Tom and Ray, at Car Talk to have a field day with the news of Pope Francis’ recent present: a lovingly used 30 hp 1984 Renault 4.

If somehow you missed the story, check it out here.

As soon as the now-retired radio hosts heard the news, they went on Facebook and Twitter and let the witticisms and quips rip.

The Pope buys a 1984 Renault… Now there's a man who believes in the power of prayer. http://t.co/qevdAXY2mx

— Car Talk (@cartalk) September 12, 2013

But the best part was they let their fans join the fun with #PopesRenault and #VaticanMechanic

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Here’s just a sampling of some of the funny comebacks and play-on-words people came up with. Tell us which is your favorite and give us a zinger of your own!

• I always thought the Pope would drive a Christ-ler
• “Tu illam inundarunt” (Latin for “You flooded it”).
• The pope can easily handle a flooded engine. Even if it’s of Biblical proportions.
• He needs one of two bumper stickers. #1, God is my co-pilot. OR #2, My other car is the Pope Mobile.
• I haven’t seen car trouble like this since we tried to fit all the Apostles in one Accord.
• It’s either burning oil, or you’ve just been replaced.
• “A little black smoke is fine, just watch out for the white smoke”.
• If you see a lot of white smoke, it might mean it’s time to elect a new car.
• The black smoke means that a new car must still be chosen.
• Ashes to Ashes
  Dust to Dust.
  If not for Renault
  Our tools would rust.
• Look the Vatican acquired a new relic.
• “The Spiritus Sancti made manifold…”
• Last Rides, anyone? (Extreme disfUnction)
• Pop that lever and let’s see what’s under the sainthood.
• 20 years to go 186,000 miles? Light can do that in one second.
• “Well, sir, it keeps overheating because the water in the radiator keeps turning to wine…”
• If they can cram 6 or 7 parishioners in it to drive to St. Peter’s on Sunday, is it considered Mass Transit?
• If he wanted to follow The Lord, the Pope would drive a Plymouth: “Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, where I have driven them in my anger, and in my FURY” – Jeremiah 32:37, King James Edition
• and in the UK we use “and Moses came down from Sinai in his Triumph (probably a stag or TR6)”
• No, no, no. Clearly holy people are Honda lovers. “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

Now it’s U-turn. Ready, set, go!