Pope Francis repeatedly withdraws his right hand as worshippers bow and try to kiss the ring on it during visit to Catholic shrine in Loreto, Italy. https://t.co/4PsdTxNmCg pic.twitter.com/03MkhfiLPo
— ABC News (@ABC) March 27, 2019
Troll level: infalliible.
Conservative Catholics, who routinely accuse the current Pope of straying from church doctrine and tradition, now suspect that he has an end to ring-kissing in his sights.
They point to video taken on Monday in the Italian town of Loreto, which shows the Pope withdrawing his hand from Catholics trying to kiss his ring.
…During a 53-second period, Francis snapped his hand away from 19 people trying to bow and kiss his ring. One particularly unfortunate man ended up kissing his own hand after the pope suddenly withdrew from the greeting.
And this is the section which has been widely shared online.
It may be that the Pope was in a hurry to get to the end of the receiving line – and it’s notable that, afterwards, he went on to spend more time greeting people, many in wheelchairs, at the front of the church.
Francis may not enjoy his ring being kissed, but it’s inaccurate to say that he rejected all those that day who attempted the gesture….
Pope’s ring-kissing controversy not what it seems (BBC)
Totes awks.
Maybe he just forgot to wash his hands after toilet break?
He should stop wearing it or put his hand on their shoulder.
If you see the full video, you’ll see he tolerates dozens of clergy (mostly Franciscans) kissing his ring. But his attitude seems to change towards the end when it is lay people doing it.
It may be that his hand had been hurt at that stage (he’s an old man), or he has an objection to the practice. If so, why allow it for clergy and not for laity (after all, he routinely preaches against “clericalism”). It’s awkward and unseemly nevertheless. The important thing for people to remember (including the Pope) is that it is a practice demonstrating respect and allegiance to the office he holds, not to him (or any other pope) personally. It’s a bit uncharitable to prevent lay people (who likely will never meet a pope again) from doing what they see as a fitting greeting for such an office.
Sometimes it annoys him, sometimes it doesn’t, apparently. He doesn’t like the fact that it’s a practice that monarchs used to insist on so it’s not a religious thing, it’s a power thing. Hmmmmmmm.
I think you’re right. Though it’s also a power thing to deny lay people the opportunity to greet him as they see fit. The opposite side to the same coin that insisted rigidly on dress, protocol, hierarchy around bishops and popes in the past.
“greet him as they see fit”
Perhaps this is the problem and it could easily rectified with some communication.
True. He’s handled this badly, I think.
maybe he had just finished a vigorous hole scratching session and wasn’t feeling confident and fresh.
Then he’s doing it wrong, i’nee?
It’s very unhygienic. If you had a dribbling, hairy auld one in line before you kissing his ring , you’d take a pass.
…One ring to chide them…
Who doesn’t like their ring being kissed?
“My precious”.
Why not just take off the ring altogether? He’s hardly Elton John material…