AmericanPapist Comments
:) Good to see this photo.
Indeed, Warrior. It is a photograph of reverence and humility--virtues that often seem in short supply especially in liberal countries where as Walker Percy put it, "the suck of self" reigns supreme.
not to nitpick, but shouldn't he genuflect on his left knee? Despite what Jack Chick claims, we do not revere the Pope as a god.
Thank you, Andrew. That was my thought exactly when I saw this photograph. And it's not nitpicking. Oremus pro invicem!
It's good that you all are sharp enough to have noticed that, and it's certainly not nitpicking!
Of course he should be on his left knee, but the fact that he genuflected at all shows he is exponentially more respectful than most heads of state the Holy Father meets with. I don't know anything else about the President, but at least he knows how to show proper reverence. One wonders whether he kissed his ring, as well!
All Prada jokes aside - how many other men do you know who can pull off red shoes as head of state?
"Thank you so much, Mr. President. That's the third time today that contact lens popped out!"
I can just hear the Holy Father responding, "Your respect is most kind. Now let us help you up."
Is Francois Bozize a Catholic? His posture and first name would certainly indicate he is.
Oh come off it. He is a president and head of state and not required to genuflect to another head of a state, be it a city state in the case of the vatican. His genuflection is a personal gesture. Elizabeth II or the president of France would not be seen doing this gesture. So let's get real. IT is a personal matter and has nothing to do with respect at all. All Heads of state are equal protocol wise and let's leave it at that and not go on about it. Actually, M Teresa always kissed the pope's hand, but did not genuflect. Check it out. Adam
Adam, of course (today) it is a personal choice, no one is going on about it, we're just happy to see it. However, the genuflection is not due to the Pope's being a Head of State, but to his being the Vicar of Christ, as Thomas said. After all, traditionally we also genuflect to our bishop who clearly is not a head of state. Also, it is not so evident that other heads of state don't genuflect - the King and Queen of Spain do, as did Polish President Walesa.
Bozize's troops have been extremely brutal at times since he took power in 2002. The CAR has been suffering from endemic violence caused by internal armed opponents to the dictatorial regime of Bozize as well as from armed rebels from neighboring Chad and Congo. Right now, rebels and government forces are both participating in atrocities against civilians in eastern CAR. I hope my man took advantage of the confessional as well as the photo op during his Vatican visit.
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