Posted on 09/04/2013 7:53:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Pope Francis bowed before Queen Rania of Jordon, who was visiting the Vatican with her husband, King Abdullah II, breaking once again with protocol that requires visitors to bow to him when they see him at the Holy See.
"Up until the 19th century visitors would kiss the pope's shoes, and the tradition is still that all visitors, women included, bow to him, but Francis behaves as he did before he became pope and is not interested in protocol," U.K.'s The Daily Telegraph quoted a senior Vatican official as saying.
The leader of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide bowed to Queen Rania, who has been vocal about the importance of cross cultural and interfaith dialogue, on Thursday. Francis apparently did not bow toward her husband, the king, Daily Mail noted.
Pope Francis has shown he cares little about tradition or protocol.
A few months ago, he caused a ripple through the Catholic faithful by washing the feet of a woman – a Serbian Muslim inmate at a prison in Rome – a day before Good Friday.
At the end of the month-long Ramadan fast of Muslims, Francis personally wrote a message to Muslims, urging their leaders to promote mutual respect. "This year, the first of my Pontificate, I have decided to sign this traditional message myself and to send it to you, dear friends, as an expression of esteem and friendship for all Muslims, especially those who are religious leaders," the pope wrote in the letter, addressed to "Muslims throughout the World."
While such greetings are normally sent by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Francis chose to send the message personally.
The pope, who is also head of state at the Vatican, is known for being informal and humble.
In March, the pontiff reportedly kissed Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. "Never in my life has a pope kissed me!" she told the media after she became the first foreign head of state to meet with the new pope.
In July, Brazil's first female president, Dilma Vana Rousseff kissed the pope on both cheeks during his visit to that country.
The pope has said he wants to reform the Catholic Church and bring it back to its original mission.
Soon after his election in March, the pope appointed a group of eight cardinals to help him bring changes in the Church's administration, which has been plagued with scandals especially during the eight-year reign of Pope Benedict.
Francis has told the cardinals that the Church must not become just another charitable group without its divine mission, urging they must stick to the faith's Gospel roots and shun modern temptations. When he addressed the media for the first time, the pope reminded Catholics that Jesus, not the pope, is at the center of the Church, which he said should be "poor, and for the poor."
After his election, the pope took the name of Francis, the most severe critic of the papacy before Martin Luther.
The Pope is as clueless and Barack Obama.
Jesus bows to Caesar.
More decline thanks to yet another failed successor to St. Peter subsequent to Vatican II.
We might see Francis traveling abroad looking at bare-breasted Polynesian dancing girls ala John Paul!
Jesus wept!
People, he made a mistake. Lets not tar and feather a very good man for something we all do.
It’s called being human.
It was noted that the Pope didnt bow to King Abdullah II who was standing right there but to the Queen..... It probably was more to do with a gesture of respecting a lady than anything else. People are overreacting a little
“And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”
Acts 10:25-26
Most people do not understand the difference between impeccable and infallible.
I guess they need to use their dictionaries.
Freepers overreacting.....naah, that never happens.
After reading the article, I think he may be choosing to perform a one man outreach of sorts to Muslims... My concern is that; from my understanding; such overtures are interpreted by the Middle Eastern culture, as a show of weakness : /
Please guide our course, Lord.
Tatt
That action is disgustingly offensive.
Most people do not understand the difference between impeccable and infallible.
I guess they need to use their dictionaries.
________________________________
Paying a little more attention to building their own virtue of charity wouldn’t hurt either. ;-)
Grr. Jesus isn’t “bowing to Caesar.” The servant of Jesus is “honoring the king” (or in this case, queen). It’s not a salute to Islam, it’s a respect to the temporal head of an actual country. And if there is a queen, it has to be a pretty liberal form of Islam anyhow.
What we have here, folks, is a pope that is not letting the office go to his head! An actual servant! This could be a sea change for the Roman Catholic church, perhaps the most evangelical pope since Peter himself.
Another perspective than the ‘Christian Post.’
FReegards
I think the Pope was just leaning closer to get a better look at those “man hands”.
This is pretty liberal conduct on her part, in the context of Islam. Liberal isn’t ALWAYS a bad thing. Depends on context.
he bowed to the queen not to the King who was standing right there. It appears to be a gesture towards a lady rather than worshiping Islam or being subservient to authority.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.