More than 100 people welcomed Pope Francis during the ceremony in the Italian pilgrimage town of Loreto on Monday. Francis surprised more than 20 worshipers at the ceremony because he pulled his hand away and prevented some from kneeling. Other pilgrims were allowed to kiss his hand and the ring.
what happened there? Why were some allowed to kiss and others not? Did the pontiff only want to speed up the long ceremony towards the end? Or does he really mind that somebody kisses him? At first the Vatican did not want to reveal the secret and did not comment on it.
Criticism that he „humiliated people“
On the Internet, the Pope was criticized for humiliating people or breaking with church traditions. Many complained that Francis avoided customs. To these belong the kiss on the papal signet ring as veneration before the office. An online video of the audience was viewed more than nine million times.
Now the Vatican unveiled the secret: towards the end of the long welcome parade, the Pope had concerns that after so many kisses on his ring could spread germs. Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti explained the incident. He emphasized that the Pope is always happy to welcome small groups.
Pope likes to be close to the people
Traditionally, popes is handed over at the inauguration of the Fischerring. Faithful Catholics often kneel in front of the Pope and kiss him on the ring to express their worship and worship. Francis, however, likes to be close to the people and repeatedly denounces the demonstration of power by church leaders and demands modesty. So he did not want a ring of solid gold, but „only“ a gold-plated silver ring.
