Peter the first Pope

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Catholics believe Peter was the first Pope. In the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible, Acts 10:25-26 we read:

".[25] And it came to pass, that when Peter was come in, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling at his feet adored.[26] But Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise, I myself also am a man.

Why are the Popes allowing us to kneel in front of him? This is not the example Peter the Apostel (Pope) shows in the above verse.
 
Rooibok said:
Catholics believe Peter was the first Pope. In the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible, Acts 10:25-26 we read:

".[25] And it came to pass, that when Peter was come in, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling at his feet adored.[26] But Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise, I myself also am a man.

Why are the Popes allowing us to kneel in front of him? This is not the example Peter the Apostel (Pope) shows in the above verse.
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I have flamboyantly highlighted the money word.

The act of kneeling can signify many things (respect, submission, or fatigue, to name three). Practiced with the right intention, it can be quite legitimate to kneel before a pope. The scripture you provide, however, specifies an act of adoration (or “worship,” in the narrowed, modern sense of the term) which can never be practiced toward a pope without violating the very deposit of faith the Pope guards and represents. Both St. Peter and Benedict XVI have it right in this regard.
 
Spectator is correct.

Cornelius saw Peter perform miracles and throught that Peter was God. Peter was correcting Cornelius’ mistake.

But to give the Vicar of Christ on Earth his due respect is not incorrect. The Holy Father is the Prime Minister in Christ’s kingdom and Christ acts vicariously through him. We do not make the mistake of thinking that the Holy Father is God but we give him the respect he deserves.

We can kneel for all sorts of reasons, including to tie our shoes. It is what is in our heart that matters. People see someone kneel before a statue or before the Holy Father and say, “Aha! They worship statues and worship the Pope!” but it just isn’t so. We don’t worship our shoes when we kneel to tie them fand we don’t worship a Superior Court Judge when we stand and take off our hat when he enters the room. No one knows what is in my mind and heart when I kneel.

-Tim-
 
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