Well, the new Pope Francis is shaking things up a bit. We are early risers and happened to turn on our morning news to see LIVE coverage from Rome of the inaugural mass of Pope Francis........he was in an "open air" Jeep kind of vehicle. Not the typical popemobile used since Pope John Paul was shot...........
He had the vehicle stopped so he could get out and touch what looked like a severely disabled or paralyzed man held in someone's arms. Very touching.
He also kissed babies, etc. The "guards" must have been a nervous wreck.
We saw up to where he got his pope's ring. My husband thought it would be 18K gold but I had heard it was GOLD PLATED OVER STERLING SILVER. He didn't believe that. They said it again. The pope chose a simple version of the "fisherman's ring" of Saint Peter. He also chose the simple "shawl" of wool.
What really surprised me though was that the anchors said that the pope does not like those long drawn out masses and prefers the simplicity of a shorter mass.....which this one would be............plus he would not be dispensing communion as it usually ends up being only the "nobility" types that get the communion and he felt it better not to do it at all. That's what we heard..........basically, it would not be a lot of pomp and circumstance. We all know already he ditched the red shoes....and today was not wearing the heavy brocaded garments he could have worn, in favor of a simple white outfit............just interesting to observe.
We were born and raised Roman Catholics, however, have been totally turned off by the years and years of scandals involving children..........but every now and then there is a glimpse of "hope".
It was also interesting to see how the church hiarchy from Constanstinople actually came to the ceremony........the rift between the Roman and the Orthodox church is well known..........again, hope for a better tomorrow with Pope Francis leading.
p.s. It was also interesting to see Pope Francis go down into the tomb of Saint Peter (the apostle Peter)......the first pope. Buried in a cave underneath???
The other world church leaders also went down into the tomb...this was prior to the mass and him getting his gold plated over sterling silver fisherman's ring.
I'm a pretty good judge of character and he has a kindly face and aura........I really don't think he had much choice when Argentina was terrorized by the bad guys in the 1970's and 80's. Walking a tightrope to try to keep the peace when all the horrors were going on..........I'll have to ask my older cousins in Buenos Aires what they think of that era.
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