Not that Thomas Redd’s apparent issues with Papal attire are even relevant to this thread. But, Michelle Arnold fielded a question by someone (ironically named Thomas as well) on this same issue back in 2007:
Link here:
ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=516313&Forums=4&Experts=0&Days=2008&Author=&Keyword=ambassador&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=1&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at=
*Thomas–
Perhaps you should be more hesitant to declare that others are sinning (cf. Matt. 7:1-5), particularly when it is apparent that you do not understand the reason why such marks of honor are given to Christ’s Vicar.
The customs you decry have arisen as means by which Christ is honored through his chosen representative. Look at it this way: When a country sends an ambassador to represent it, standard diplomatic protocol calls for the host country to give certain marks of respect to the ambassador (e.g., courtesy titles, playing the national anthem of the visiting country, displaying the visiting country’s flag, providing honored seating arrangements and guest quarters, etc.). These marks of respect are not for the individual but are for the visiting nation whom the individual represents.
In much the same way, Christ’s Vicar (“vicar” means “deputy”) is an ambassador of the heavenly kingdom and so the pope is given marks of respect to honor Christ himself, whom he specially represents.
Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers *
She also fielded a question in 2005:
Link here:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=83870
*I assume that you are a Christian who is concerned with imitating Jesus and being Christlike. Jesus never wore jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. He never wore a watch or a baseball cap. For formal occasions, he would never have worn a tophat and tuxedo. If you wear these things on informal and formal occasions, does that mean that you are not acting in a Christlike manner and that it would be appropriate to question your Christian commitment? I hope that you agree that such a question answers itself. Our Christian commitment is not demonstrated by wearing exactly the clothes that Jesus would have worn, but by imitating his example of holiness.
In the pope’s case, he wears a simple robe called a cassock and a simple cap called a zucchetto in ordinary life. For special occasions, such as when he celebrates Mass, he wears a formal robe called a chasuble and a formal headdress called a miter. These clothes signify his status as Christ’s Vicar and honor the occasions on which he wears them, much as our clothing signifies our state in life and honors the occasions on which we wear them. If it is okay for ordinary Christians to wear clothing for such reasons, it is okay for the pope to do so. *
This erroneous charge that the Pope’s attire is ridiculously expensive and ostentatious and that the Vatican is worth so much money is just absurd. Even if his “ermine fur and other golden and jewel encrusted outfits” along with all the priceless artifacts were all sold off it would be A. not enough to make any difference in the long term goals of equality in the world and B. not the right of the Pope to do so anyhow. Also, C. it would lose an opportunity to glorify the splendor of the LORD, albeit using our poor human ways of expression.
I think this may have been pointed out beforehand, but just in case, Christ allowed his feet to be washed with expensive perfumes, do you also have a problem with Jesus? The Vatican and the Pope operate in the red most of the time, and the Catholic Church and affiliated Charities supply more help and aid to everywhere in the world than any other organization: fact.
I hope and pray that you will be less critical of the Church, YOUR Church, and truly embrace the great gift of its tradition, its witness to the faith, and the fidelity with which it carries on as the Church Jesus Christ Himself founded.
Lastly, you said:
*Let me simply quote something:
"Then addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, 'The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say, but do not be quided by what they do: since they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them. Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honor at banquets and the front seat in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them, Rabbi.
You however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only on teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23: 1-12.
In spite of all the verbal and mental gymnastics to justify the opposite, don’t you in your deepest heart of heart believe what Jesus said is true?"*
…continued
