To Mr Kaufman, Sir Paul "has a very special position and his lawyers will be arguing very, very strongly he should be treated differently from most other husbands because here we have a man who incredibly has built up massive wealth because frankly he is a genius".

BBC: NEWS | UK | Magazine | Why Sir Paul's 'genius' could save him millions

Otherwise, the emerging narrative of a down-to-earth man, thrust into power but mostly indifferent to the trappings of his position, driven by a special concern for the poor has proved especially encouraging to many frazzled Catholics, especially as, in a cynical time, it just may turn out to be the tale closest to the truth.

CNN: Pope Francis: A conservative who sides with the poor