What does the pope hold in his hand?
The papal ferula (from Latin ferula, ‘rod’) is the pastoral staff used in the Catholic Church by the pope. It is a rod with a knob on top surmounted by a cross. It differs from a crosier, the staff carried by other bishops of Latin-rite churches, which is curved or bent at the top in the style of a shepherd’s crook.
Why can’t you kiss the pope’s hand?
Pope Francis clarified one church-related mystery on Thursday, explaining that it was a fear of spreading germs that provoked him to yank his hand away from the lips of devoted worshippers as they bent down to kiss the papal ring earlier this week.
Why is the current pope limping?
Francis has enjoyed relatively robust health, though he lost the upper part of one lung in his youth due to an infection. He also suffers from sciatica, or nerve pain, that makes him walk with a pronounced limp.
Is there a hole in the pope’s chair?
There is no gender test. Chairs with a large hole cut in the seat are sometimes thought to have been used to check the sex of a new Pope. The story goes that the aim of the checks was to prevent a repeat of the scandal of “Pope Joan”, a legendary female cardinal supposedly elected pope in the 14th Century.
How old is the pope’s ring?
The Fisherman’s Ring is a signet used until 1842 to seal official documents signed by the Pope. Since at least the Middle Ages it has been a tradition for Catholics meeting the Pope to show their devotion by kissing the ring.
What kind of surgery is the Pope having?
ROME — The Vatican announced that Pope Francis had responded well to colon surgery in a hospital in Rome on Sunday evening, overcoming the first significant health challenge in a pontificate that has lasted more than eight years and shifted the priorities and direction of the Roman Catholic Church.
Which Pope died in office?
John Paul I
Pope John Paul I
| Pope Venerable John Paul I | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Albino Luciani |
| Born | 17 October 1912 Canale d’Agordo, Belluno, Veneto, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 28 September 1978 (aged 65) Apostolic Palace, Vatican City |