Tourists Hot Over Vatican Dress Code

CBSNews.com ^ | July 16, 2003

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

With temperatures soaring, tempers are flaring as the Vatican's dress police turn back tourists in shorts and bare shoulders trying to get into St. Peter's Basilica.

Vendors are doing a brisk business selling paper pants and paper shirts -- turning St. Peter's Square into an open-air changing room.

“I am born naked and the church wants me to be wearing pants,” Danish tourist Kenneth Bergen, 53, proclaimed to a throng of would-be visitors who had been turned back. Bergen had just bought a pair of paper pants.

Enforcement of the dress turns into a battle each summer, but the verbal skirmishes have been heightened this July because Rome has been in the grips of a relentless heat wave.

For weeks, temperatures have reached into the 90 degrees Fahrenheit each day and the thousands of tourists trudging through the streets seem dressed more for a day at the beach -- shorts, miniskirts, tank tops for both men and women. The city's policemen have been out in force to assure tourists don't cool off their feet in the Trevi Fountain and other landmarks.

At the Vatican, authorities have erected signs showing that no one can enter the basilica with bare legs and bare shoulders. Guards --neatly dressed in shirts and ties -- patrol the entrances.

Showing true entrepreneurial spirit, vendors have popped up at various points around the vast square, keeping one step ahead of the police.

A student identifying himself as Marko from Yugoslavia, visiting the Vatican with his grandmother, plunked down a euro for paper pants, but promptly ripped them as he tried to pull them up above his shorts. A vendor reluctantly reached into his black plastic bag for another pair.

“The information we got was that the dress code only applied when the pope was here,” said Becky Haskin, 44, visiting from Fort Worth, Texas, with three friends.

Blocked on their first attempt, they bought a pair of paper pants and two shawls. “It was worth it,” she said.

Not only the Vatican but the diocese of Rome and its hundreds of churches require what authorities consider appropriate dress. But unlike the Vatican, most of the churches cannot afford guards and -- in the heat of this summer -- they have become cool refuges for the barely clad.

Some tourists do come prepared, pulling out pants and shirts from their backpacks and changing in St. Peter's Square, often prompting whistles and cat calls from onlookers.

[wideawake]

A lot of people in a lot hotter climates manage to wear less revealing clothing in their ordinary day-to-day lives.

Thank you. When I was in Rome in mid-August '99 I walked from the Vatican to the Capitoline (several miles) in 95 degree weather wearing loafers, khakis and a blue oxford shirt. I didn't melt or pass out.

I saw St. Peter's, the Vatican Museum, the Lateran, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, the Circus Maximus, the Gesu and other important places and managed just fine with a little water and a little gelato along the way.

[Salgak]

I remember a wedding at which I was an usher at, 15 years ago. The Preacher (an old college buddy of mine) was getting married: all the guys except myself and the bride's brother were in tuxes: I was in USAF Dress Blue, and her brother was in USMC Full Dress.

And over half the guests were in jeans and sneakers. I was appalled. . .

[LadyDoc]

god doesn't care what we are wearing, but when we go into a holy place half naked we are in effect mocking God...I believe there is a parable by Jesus about a wedding shirt that makes the same point...

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

BTW, the Italians should enforce their indecency laws and ticket these dumbasses changing in St. Peters Square.

BTW St Peters Square is not in Italy it is the seperate and independent country of the Vatican. Their police will in fact arrest you there are just not many of them among the thousands in the square.

[Paul Atreides]

I had a friend whose daughter was getting married, and they asked me to man the camcorder. I could not believe some of the people showing up at the wedding. Some looked as if they came to the wedding straight from work (and, I'm not talking about suit-and-tie jobs). Like you, I was shocked.

[Paul Atreides]

Here in Alabama, we are in the 90+ degree range. I see people walking around in suits, pants, etc. all the time. The other day, I saw a city utility employee checking meters in pants and a long-sleeve shirt in the middle of June.

[The Great RJ]

After all this is a church--don't these idiots have any respect.

[Paul Atreides]

Isn't that Rosie O'Donnell?

[Xenalyte]

I suppose the Dane who believed being born nude gave him a right to go nude was served at an eatery in Rome?

You're not streaking through the Vatican, are you?

[Focault's Pendulum]

Check out that little red flame underneath him.

[ElkGroveDan]

OMG! ROTFL
Everyone in the office wants to know what is making me laugh so hard I'm crying

[csvset]

Lol, Damn you !

[Focault's Pendulum]

Everyone in the office wants to know what is making me laugh so hard I'm crying

You really have to look kind of close at the pic to understand the dichotomy of the situation

[Focault's Pendulum]

Maybe I can airbrush out the naughty bits and repost it. Nah!!!!

[Focault's Pendulum]

OMG! ROTFL Everyone in the office wants to know what is making me laugh so hard I'm crying

BTW It's a Google Images search..mens thongs..it shows up as the third one!!!!!

[Paul Atreides]

I saw more dichotomy than I ever wanted to with that one.

[cricket]

I am not sympathetic with the tourists - sorry, but think American tourists are the worst dress group of people out there. Am embarrassed to see American's walking around beautiful sites/lands/museums/churchs looking like they came from a homeless shelter. . .

As for the Vatican; like other sacred sites; one should dress with respect.

Really, not too much to ask.

[You Dirty Rats]

Reminds me of an old joke.

A topless dancer enters church "dressed" for work. The priest stops her at the entrance:

"My dear, you can't come into church like that."

"But Father, I have a divine right!

"And you left isn't bad either, but you still need to cover your head!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

“I am born naked and the church wants me to be wearing pants,” Danish tourist Kenneth Bergen,

You were also born covered in blood and slime and screeching your head off. I see at least one thing hasn't changed.