As retold by Bruce Lowitt

The Rev. Billy Graham, visiting the Pope in the Vatican, notices a red phone on his desk.

Graham says, "That phone is unique. What do you use it for?"

The Pope says, "It's a direct long-distance line to God. Only for special occasions."

"Really? How much does a call cost?"

"About a hundred thousand dollars for a minute, but worth it."

A Year later, Graham pays a call on the Israeli prime minister, in Jerusalem. And there, too, is a red phone, and the prime minister is chatting on it. After a while the conversation ends and the prime minister tells Graham, "God says hi."

"That was some conversation," Graham said. "It must have cost you close to a million dollars."

"Nah. Seventy-five cents."

"But in the Vatican, the Pope." Graham says.

And the prime minister said, "From here it's a local call."