Kilmeade adds of Axelrod: “Maybe he wanted the Pope to kiss his ring.” Later in the program, a caller said that Axelrod probably didn't kiss the Pope's ring because he's Jewish.

From NPR's interview of Monsignor K. Bartholomew Smith:

Do I kiss the ring?

Yes, if you are Catholic and the pope offers his hand. If you're not Catholic, you can opt to shake his hand. That's what President Bush did on Tuesday when he met the pope at Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C.

A New York Times profile wrote of Axelrod: “Axelrod and his sister, Joan, grew up in Manhattan, the children of two Jewish liberals.”