I've been surprised to find that several readers consider it one of their favorite statements of mine when I said that if I were elected Pope, I'd dig up all the intervening Popes who hadn't had a proper coronation and shockingly crown their rotting corpses before accepting my own coronation.
So, with that being re-emphasized, I don't know if you all saw this story in the blogosphere or on New Liturgical Movement.
Some German businessman commissioned some Bulgarian Orthodox firm to make a tiara for Pope Benedict and then presented it to him as a gift!
Unfortunately, he didn't try it on, though I'm sure that was the intent; to at least get a foot in the door for the tiara's normalization by taking the passive-aggressive approach.
As someone in the comments on the original post said:
It's sort of a double-standard, no, to wear all those and not wear one type of hat that would be appropriate on a Pope? As the Liturgical Pimpernel said:
Again, getting the Orthodox involved and having an "ecumenical delegation" present it thus seems like a brilliant strategic move too in terms of passive-aggressive manipulation.
But, the Pope did not try it on "in the spur of the moment" so I doubt now, sadly, he ever will (a "spontaneous" photo-op was really the only chance we ever had).
Still, to even see this making an appearance, however marginalized or minor, is heartening. It's a nice one too. Certainly better than that unworn tiara the Hungarians gave John Paul:
So, with that being re-emphasized, I don't know if you all saw this story in the blogosphere or on New Liturgical Movement.
Some German businessman commissioned some Bulgarian Orthodox firm to make a tiara for Pope Benedict and then presented it to him as a gift!
Unfortunately, he didn't try it on, though I'm sure that was the intent; to at least get a foot in the door for the tiara's normalization by taking the passive-aggressive approach.
As someone in the comments on the original post said:
Having seen photos of His Holiness put on several hats given him by various groups as gifts -- a policeman's hat, a fireman's hat, a baseball cap, an Alpine hat -- too bad he didn't try on the tiara!
It's not polite to accept a gift and never use it, is it? Especially not if it could cause ecumenical offense.
But, the Pope did not try it on "in the spur of the moment" so I doubt now, sadly, he ever will (a "spontaneous" photo-op was really the only chance we ever had).
Still, to even see this making an appearance, however marginalized or minor, is heartening. It's a nice one too. Certainly better than that unworn tiara the Hungarians gave John Paul:
1 comment:
Why do modern tiaras look like nose-cones? JPII's is SO metallic!
but B16's is a bit less 'triumphalist' in my book. I still like the Eatern Crowns with little icons of saints etc.
Rdr. James
Olympia WA
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