Three men were visiting the United States from the inner regions of Africa. While here they really wanted to visit different churches to see how religion was practiced here. The first stop was at a Baptist church, the men went in and sat in the back. After the service was over the Pastor came back and talked to the gentlemen for a while. He asked how they like the service and they said they enjoyed it but that they did have a question. They were wondering what the people that went to the front of the church and got down on there knees were doing? The Pastor explained that they were speaking to God, giving thanks and asking for forgiveness. One of the men asked again, "They were speaking to God?" Yes as a Baptist we can speak directly to God.

Later the three men went to a Catholic church to attend a service. Afterwards they had a question for the Priest. "Why did the church members not go down front to speak to God?" "In the Catholic church the members talk to their Priest" was the reply. "Whom do you speak to?", they asked. "I speak to the Bishop." "Who does he speak to?" "He speaks to the Cardinal", was the reply. "And the Cardinal, he speaks to God?", they asked. "No he talks directly with the Pope and the Pope speaks directly to God". The men looked at each other and nodded their heads in a knowing way. "Do you understand now?" asked the Priest.

"Yes....your Pope is a Baptist"