Masquerading Spy Bishop fails to enter secret talk

[Misfit]

Father phony: Man tries to sneak into pope talks

VATICAN CITY – The too-short cassock should have been a giveaway.

A man tried to sneak into secret talks Monday that are being held by the Catholic cardinals who will select the next pope.

Wearing a makeshift bishop costume, he arrived at the Vatican with an entourage of fake clerics, even posing for photos with a real cardinal.

He then made it past at least one level of security before being stopped outside the Sistine Chapel.

The impostor was identified by Italian news agency ANSA as Ralph Napierski. He is a German who said he is part of a non-existent Catholic institution called Corpus Dei (a play on "Opus Dei," a real Catholic group). His attempted infiltration prompted the Vatican to hold discussions on improving security that already includes sweeping the Sistine Chapel for listening devices.