Hoax of the week: Pope Goestheveezl

The old hoaxes/urban legends that were going around before the wide-spread use of e-mails occasionally resurface. This is one such example, which I quite like as it doesn't attempt to spread itself via fear, nor does it try to conn people out of their money. Hence a positive 'Hoax of the week' this time round. This version is a published one, to be found in the Armchair Anarchist's Handbook.

Pope Goestheveezl was the shortest reigning pope in the history of the Church, reigning for two hours and six minutes on 1 April 1866. The white smoke had hardly faded into the blue of the Vatican skies before it dawned on the assembled multitudes in St. Peter's Square that his name had hilarious possibilities. The crowds fell about, helpless with laughter, singing:

Half a pound of tuppenny rice
Half a pound of treacle
That's the way the chimney smokes
Pope Goestheveezl