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Could anyone please parse or help me make sense of

8 Down Study of the rocky personal relationship between successive popes? (14)

Petrochemistry

I can see most of it but 'the popes' (if that is what they are) elude me

Thanks for all and any help

M

Hi mamya
I suppose that "chemistry" is the personal relationships. Does the "petro" bit have something to do with "Peter, the rock on which I will build my church" (i.e. the first pope)?

Yes agree re the 'chemistry' Chris - Petro does link to Rock but not Peter as such and why 'successive' ?

Never happy to just write it in because it must be right

I was thinking along those lines, Chris, but you got in first and saved me from trying to explain!

Well it's the same root, mamya,(Simon was renamed Peter to mean "rock") but I don't see the "successive" either, and agree that it doesn't seem to quite work.

Actually "Petros" - can we remove the "s" somehow?

It is annoying isn't it - sometimes you know you have it but the final 'lightbulb' moment won't come.

It has just reminded me of a strange and rather wonderful novel for anyone with the remotest interest in number theory (!)
Uncle Petros and Goldbach's conjecture
(Sorry - can't remember the author, though he is Greek(

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Petros-Goldbachs-Conjecture-Apostolos-Doxiadis/dp/0571205119

I can thoroughly recommend it!