The Sardars realized that they had no choice. So they picked a middle aged
man named Santa Singh to represent them. Santa Singh asked for one
condition to be added to the debate. To make it more interesting, the
debate was to be conducted using sign language and neither side would be
allowed to talk. The Pope agreed.

The day of the great debate came. Santa Singh and the Pope sat opposite
each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed
three fingers. Santa Singh looked back at him and raised one finger. The
Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Santa Singh pointed to
the ground where he sat. The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine.
Santa Singh pulled out an apple.

The Pope stood up and said, "I give up. This man is too good. The Sardars
can stay. "

An hour later, the cardinals were all around the Pope asking him what had
happened. The Pope said, "First I held up three fingers to represent the
trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there was
still one God common to both our religions. Then I waved my finger around
me to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the
ground and showing that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the
wine and wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an
apple to remind me of original sin. He had an answer for everything. What
could I do?"

Meanwhile, the Sardar community had crowded around Santa Singh. "What
happened ?" they asked. "Well", said Santa Singh, "First he said to me that
the Sardars had three days to get out of here. I told him that not one of
us was leaving. Then he told me that this whole city would be cleared of
Sardars. I let him know that we were staying right here."

"And then?", asked the crowd.

"I don't know," said Santa Singh, "He took out his lunch and I took out mine".