Silly and stupid question. Why does one shake hands in western cultures; why does one embrace in most latin cultures; why do Japanese people bow; why do Indians fold their hands and bow when greeting each other; why do most people who meet Royalty bow or courtesy?
These are all cultural HUMAN traditional greetings. Stop being ignorant for a change and accept that this is nothing burger, unless your anti-Catholic bigotry won’t allow you to do so.
Incidentally, our Lord not only embraced, bowed, kissed his disciples feet, but encouraged his followers to do the same.
It’s not a silly question at all.
Not every culture is the same. Particularly in how women are allowed to interact with men. Orthodox Judaism is one of those. She shouldn’t have been expected to touch him in any way shape or form.
Likewise he should have never bowed to her for any reason.
And asking the question isn’t ‘anti-catholic bigotry’. I’d certainly expect a Catholic to bow on greeting the Pope. I’d likewise be horrified if the Pope bowed to another Catholic.
I’d NEVER bow or curtsey on greeting ANY royalty btw. I have 30+ ancestors who fought in the American Revolution who risked their lives that I never have to subjucate myself to ANY human being. I wouldn’t bow to the US President either. Any of them.
Stated shortly, it’s ridiculous for a Catholic to expect a woman of ANOTHER religion to do something that’s forbidden in her religion (ie, touch another man unrelated to her). Likewise it’s ridiculous for any person to expect the Pope to bow to them.
Seriously, is this the very first time the Pope (any pope) has met someone of a religion that doesn’t allow its women to touch or subjucate themselves to men not their husbands? Were there no protocol people involved on either side? Both of them should go sit in their respective corners in time out.