Rudd moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform

(It would certainly be unwise to attempt official communion with another, much younger, religious community, the John Frum Cargo Cult, since its adherents would immediately call for frequent air supply flights. It could, though, be argued that Australia’s south-west Pacific aid program already answers those prayers in its liturgy, albeit not by parachute or by DC-3.)

Rudd’s announcement of a resident ambassador at The Vatican came at the end of the July visit to Sydney by the Pope - Benedict XVI, previously Cardinal Ratzinger, once known as “God's Rottweiler” but now, apparently, as the “German Shepherd”.

That visit, for “World Youth Day”, a Catholic festival, had all the zing of an old Roman Triumph, and a lot of the hysteria historically associated with such events. But even so, and even though it was accompanied by draconian, suppressive legislation and the remains of an Italian pre-saint in a coffin - the former because Australia is the most over-regulated and officially harassed country on Earth; the latter apparently on a wink and a nod from the customs and quarantine authorities, which are otherwise so concerned about foreign bodies that they prosecute people for bringing in pâté - it was unambiguously a good thing.

There is no reason to deny the Pope the honour and adulation (or even the forelock-tugging) that goes with high office, or to quarantine his Australian flock from the benefit of direct contact. And there is precedent, after all. Australians customarily do the same for the Queen; and she is head of the Church of England.

It was a circus with some merit, in other words. That it was marked by political game-playing and advantage seeking is unremarkable. That Rudd should seek to have the papal glow shine upon his announcement of yet another mission to save the world from itself is also no surprise.

His cheer squad notes that his faith-based approach is not merely ecumenical - he was raised a Catholic, became an Anglican, and apparently now claps along happily with the evangelical wing of that communion - but also multi-religious.

They say Rudd will be discussing such matters (in the context of interfaith conversation, international relations and social advance) with other political leaders on his global travels, as and when they occur.

But will the fact that Australia has now committed to open-ended multi-million-dollar funding of a fulltime embassy to the Holy See add any real clout to such prime ministerial presentations? That’s the real multi-million-dollar question.