Posted on 09/01/2013 7:03:45 AM PDT by NotYourAverageDhimmi
The Pope has once again shown his willingness to break with tradition by bowing to Muslim royal Queen Rania of Jordan.
As leader of the world's 1.2billion-strong Catholic community, protocol usually dictates that visitors bow to him when they meet him at the Vatican.
But when Rania came to the Holy See with her husband King Abdullah II on Thursday, he inverted that formality by lowering his head to her.
He made no discernible bow toward her husband, the king. The Jordanian royals were leaving following a private audience with the pope in his library.
'Francis behaves as he did before he became pope and is not interested in protocol', a senior Vatican official told the Daily Telegraph.
Up until the 19th century, those meeting the pope stoop to kiss his slippers and, to this day, the tradition remains that all visitors, including women, bow to him, the official said.
The surprise move came after Pope Francis showed he is well in touch with what's popular in society today by posing for a 'selfie' with young Italian pilgrims in St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
what an ass
and I am Catholic
I am not a fan of this nut case
If there were ever muslims in name only its Abdulla and Rania.
I am not Catholic, but I see no reason for the Pope to be making such submissive gestures to Islamic royalty—which are representative of Islam in general. It really sets a very bad precedent.
He’s a Jesuit, I’m not surprised.
Just wait, the best is yet to come. s/
Anyone for the last pope theory?
Just take it from someone who knows, Middle Eastern Wives are the best wives, I should know ;)
Oh Yeah, just block out that putz Gordon Brown.
True.
Plus Rania is clearly the hottest spouse of a head of state.
Not guilty (oops, wrong thread).
Another perspective than the ‘Daily Mail.’
FReegards
For a man who claims to be vicar (in place of) Christ, this is abominable.
So Catholics confess their sins to a man who bows to islamics????
I am curious, Alice - why do you say that?
I am very sad for Jordan. Another ally who trusted us and now they are going to face the Obama funded ‘Arab Spring’ next. There are Arab countries who wish us no wrong. Jordan is one of them.
I know Abdulla stirred things up a few years back when he decreed that men who commit honor killings would be charged with murder.
Jesuits are the enforcers of Catholic doctrine. Francis’ gestures would be contradictory to their history. Jesuits are not known to be pussies but sometimes arrogant.
As a Catholic, I have a real problem with Francis’ gesture. Especially since women are expected to cover their heads when in the Vatican and kiss the pope’s ring. Women visitors do not expect the pope to bow to them.
If they get pushed out of Syria by the civil war, the only place they can go in the region will probably be Jordan, which (without refugees) is 6% Christian (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations).
The Pope is responsible to the six Eastern Catholic patriarchs, plus the rest of these hard-pressed Faithful of the ancient Churches, to provide for their safety and well-being as best he can.
Why's he meeting the the royals of Jordan? Because he is trying to find diplomatic, political, as well as physical support for the Christian people of the Middle East who are faced with extermination.
Is that a good enough reason for you?
As to the propriety of the bowing: well, there's St. Paul:
Romans 13:6-8
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
And remember, Paul was writing to and about the Romans; and the Roman Empire proved itself willing, through sporadic persecutions over a period of 300 years, to burn, crucify, and cut the heads off of Christians.
So I reckon the Pope was both offering the due diplomatic honors, plus the spontaneity of love --- hasn't anybody commented on the fact that he was bowing to a woman? You know, that subset of the human species whom the Muslims customarily treat like shi'ite?
I guess love in Christ --- a pastor's love --- is so rare, some don't even recognize it when they see it.
But some do.
“Why’s he meeting the the royals of Jordan? Because he is trying to find diplomatic, political, as well as physical support for the Christian people of the Middle East who are faced with extermination.”—interesting theory, maybe even you are right, I don’t know.
I do not like this Pope. Am I required to? I think he opens his trap and says stupid stuff and is real impressed with himself and how “humble” he is
Look Rainya is not Mother Mary. I have no problem with him bowing to Mother Mary.
shimmer, you are being obtuse
Catholics have priests as confessors who intercede with God for them—it’s a sacrament, which you as a non-Catholic wouldn’t understand (although you should if you really want a relationship with God)
Or you can confess to God on your own
no one gets to confess to the Pope
Very good post, thank you.
Not that it will convince already hardened hearts, but it certainly helped me. Speaking for myself, I forgot about the Christian perspective you pointed out here.
It’s all too easy, with the overbearing, dominant Muslim presence there, to forget there are still Christians to consider in the Middle East. The Pope (and the Vatican) can’t simply forget about them in favor of political (or even traditional) expediency.
Ummh, I didn’t say anything negative about the Pope’s actions.
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