DENNIS RODMAN did indeed show up at the Vatican yesterday . . . wearing a black jacket with brightly-colored flowers all over it.  (--He looked like the backdrop from a '70s game show or something.  Check it out here.)  (Gawker)

(--By the way . . . Rodman's trip was sponsored by an Irish online gambling site called PaddyPower.com.  That's their hat he's wearing.)

--Now, we'd heard that Rodman was going to campaign for Cardinal PETER TURKSON of Ghana as the new pope.  Although it sounds like his "support" wasn't particularly serious or informed.

--Because when he was asked about Turkson, he said, quote, "From Africa, right?"

(--It didn't matter anyway, because the popin' shall henceforth be done by Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who is now known as Pope Francis.)

--Rodman was expected to show up in his own version of the popemobile, but he failed to make good on that promise.  Supposedly, the car got delayed by snow in Northern Italy.  (--If it even exists in the first place.)

--Rodman wanted to meet with whomever the new pope was going to be.  We're guessing Pope Francis didn't take that meeting.