Ancient Religious Tradition

Every time a new Pope is elected, there's a whole lot of rituals
and ceremonies that have to be gone through, in accordance with
tradition. Well there's one tradition that very few people know
about.

Shortly after the new Pope is enthroned, the Chief Rabbi seeks
an audience. He is shown into the Pope's presence, whereupon he
presents him with a silver tray bearing a velvet cushion. On top
of the cushion is an ancient, shriveled parchment envelope. 

The Pope symbolically stretches out his arm in a gesture of
rejection.

The Chief Rabbi then retires, taking the envelope with him and
does not return until the next Pope is elected. John Paul II
was intrigued by this ritual, whose origins were unknown to him.
He instructed the best scholars of the Vatican to research it, but
they came up with nothing. When the time came and the Chief Rabbi
was shown into his presence, he faithfully enacted the ritual
rejection but, as the Chief Rabbi turned to leave, he called him
back.

"My brother," the Holy Father whispered, "I must confess that we
Catholics are ignorant of the meaning of this ritual enacted for
centuries between us and you, the representative of the Jewish
people.  I have to ask you, what is it all about?"

The Chief Rabbi shrugs and replies: "But we have no more idea than
you do.  The origin of the ceremony is lost in the traditions of
ancient history."

The Pope said: "Let us retire to my private chambers and enjoy a
glass of wine together, then, with your agreement, we shall open
the envelope and discover at last the secret."

The Chief Rabbi agreed.

Fortified in their resolve by the wine, they gingerly pried open
the curling parchment envelope and with trembling fingers, the
Chief Rabbi reached inside and extracted a folded sheet of similarly
ancient paper.  As the Pope peered over his shoulder, he slowly
opened it.

They both gasped with shock.

It was the check for the Last Supper.