re: Video: Pope Francis denies/dodges people kissing his ring, a long standing tradition

quote:

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Why do so many people want to kiss his ring?

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They're trying to show respect to the office, not the man. Whether you agree with the papacy or not, its roots go back almost 2,000 years to the formation of Christianity itself. By the second century, we see Christian authors such as Irenaeus of Lyons writing that all Christians should obey the bishop of Rome, as his See was established by both Peter and Paul.

266 men have sat in that chair since the first century. Francis is the latest in a long line of men to have held the title Bishop of Rome. By kissing his ring, people are showing solemn respect to the history of that office.