AmericanPapist Comments
"A Good and Loyal Papist" -- Wrong!!!
Didn't you see the pictures of Cherie Blair posing with condoms? Don't forget her and her husband's support for abortion.
And she shouldn't be wearing white...that's only reserved to Catholic monarchs, which she is certainly not! If only we could get Elizabeth II to wear white with the Pope...that would be nice... ;-)
If only we could get Elizabeth II to wear white with the Pope...that would be nice...
If it signaled that she had converted, that would mean she'd have to be deposed under British law, wouldn't it?
She (presuming she's the legitimate monarch) IS British law - which only applies to others, such as heirs to the throne. There could be no legal action taken against the monarch who converts (Similarly, if the monarch commits homicide, she can't be held accountable, for she truly is above the law). However, since she and her predecessors are usurpers, grabbing the throne through illegal means, then...
Perhaps Mrs. Blair, meeting with the Pope in white is signalling that Benedict XVI will do to the Blairs what his predecessor of happy memory, St. Zachary did to the Carolingians, i.e. declare that he who rules should be king ("Ipse rex qui iam gubernat.")
(In actuality, Mrs. Blair is wearing white because she was not prepared to have an audience - it was sprung on her by the papal household at the last minute).
Yes, and I suspect the weather's pretty hot in Rome right now, so she was dressed in her "summer whites"!
Okay, some misinformation here.
Cherie Blair is NOT the monarch - that's Elizabeth II. Cheri Blair IS catholic so she CAN wear white.
... and I'm joking about the "good and loyal papist" thing... sorry if you don't get the historical references.
but Catholic women, excepting Catholic monarchs and women religious in certain orders, are prohibited by the rules of protocol from wearing white in a meeting with the pope. The privilege that female Catholic monarchs (currently only the Queens of Spain and Belgium and the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg) have of wearing white in the Pope's presence is referred to as the "privilege du blanc."
doesn't that extend to Catholic heads of state? I guess she isn't a head of state... her husband is... she also isn't wearing a veil come to think of it.
I guess she isn't a head of state... her husband is... she also isn't wearing a veil come to think of it.
No he isn't. Queen Elizabeth is the Head of State for England. Tony Blair is the Head of the Government. The two things are the same in America, but not in other countries.
Or I should say not in all other countries. And the president in the United States is only the head of the executive branch of government, not the other branches of course.
... then was this a slip to let her wear white? and not wear a veil?
It was a slip, but it was a slip occasioned by the fact that this audience wasn't planned. Mrs. Blair was over for a conference and, while there, received notice that the Pope would like to see her. When the Pope calls, even if one is not prepared, one shows up. (Now, I suppose, there ARE clothing stores somewhere in Rome, where she could have purchased a nice, sombre black dress, but there may have been other considerations preventing that).
It also demonstrates that, while Benedict is clearly a person who is concerned with protocol and tradition, he's not one to allow it to stand on protocol to the detriment of everything else. How cool is that?!
very, if it indeed happened that way (not doubting you, just wondering how much we can know about the setup).
Who gives a == what she wears, as long as it is decent?
I would give a ==, Dr. Peters, as I favor the preservation of Vatican protocol. But I only do not mind in this case because it seems that this Audience was not scheduled ahead of time. So it was an exception, not a break with the rule. I still think, however, that it would have been best not to allow photos of this exceptional event.
Does anyone know who's in charge of briefing those who greet the Pope regarding appropriate attire and modesty in dress? Prey tell who allowed this?.
St. Peter's Helper: The caption says that it's the end of a concert, so that woman is obviously dressed for the concert.
"Does anyone know who's in charge of briefing those who greet the Pope regarding appropriate attire and modesty in dress?"
I'm not sure, but if it's a head of state, then it would be the Office of the Secretariat of State, from the section that deals with civil governments. If the audience is with a non-political private citizen, then perhaps the Pope's personal secretary, Georg Ganswein, might arrange it.
My source for the "surprise" nature of the meeting was this article which someone kindly posted in Amy Welborn's comment section.
Of course the PPOTD would generate more discussion than all my "substantive" posts (if such a thing exist around here...)
St. Peter's helper,
The source of the photo (the concert's, not Mrs. Blair's) states that the woman in question is the soprano solist that performed in the orchestra for the Pope.
So, it was not an audience; ergo, the rule regarding the privilege du blanc does not apply. The rule that only Catholic monarchs can dress white for an audience with the Pope refers to the audience alone.
The Pope's doctor can wear white when the Pope is in hospital, a soprano performing for the pope can wear white when singing in a concert; a bride can wear white if she is going to have her wedding presided by the Pope (rare event).
Andrew S., thank you for the clarification.
Prof. Antonio Basto, thank you also as this was what I suspected (i.e. that the women in question performed for the Pope). However, I was really referring not to the privilege du blanc but to the inappropriate neckline. I didn't even notice that she wore white until you mentioned it. Though it was technically not an audience, it would seem prudent to brief performers who honor the Holy Father, to be appropriately covered up, i.e. no sleeveless, no low neckline, as I suspect they would know in advance that they are going to meet the Pope after the concert. :)
Thomas, all your posts are substantive but the PPOTD is like ice cream, after we've had our prime rib. :)
"that the women in question performed for the Pope."
typo" "woman" instead of "women"
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