Mass has been said
He dozes? No, he is saving his strength. Friday, April 15, at the opening of the Easter weekend, Pope Francis presided gently, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican, the office of the passion. A few hours later awaited him the Stations of the Cross intended to revive the Calvary of Jesus Christ, from his death sentence to his burial, then the Easter Vigil on Saturday, before ending with the traditional urbi blessing. and Sunday morning orbi. So how can you blame him?
Hat and low profile
For the occasion, the sovereign pontiff had, that day, donned a white miter. Ostentatious? On the contrary. Like all its predecessors since the XIVand century, the bishop of Rome has a richly endowed pontifical tiara solemnly expressing his specific power and authority over Catholics throughout the world. But, for the sake of sobriety, Francis nevertheless preferred to wear this simple miter, a legacy of his past as a bishop. In reality, no pope has assumed the tiara in public since Paul VI (1963-1978), renowned for his strong taste for bling-bling.
The secret of the gods
In the same way, François was shod that day in astonishing black shoes. Popes traditionally wear red leather mules, the color of the blood of martyrs. This is how they express their solidarity with them and even their willingness to let their own blood flow in the service of Jesus Christ, in the event of a hard blow. Should we deduce from this that the head of the Church has no sense of sacrifice or that he has a sense of elegance? Only God knows.
Bouquet of purple
Since we are talking about colors, let’s continue with the setting of this bishop, installed to the left of the pope. Under his white surplice, he wears a purple cassock of the most beautiful effect. But why purple? According to some specialists in liturgical fashion, purple, a combination of blue and red, embodies the mixture of love and truth. For others, it is the covenant color of the Lord and the Church. For still others, it represents appeasement, the coldness of blue softening the ardor of red. In short, bishops wear purple and for many good reasons.
healthy friday
Finally, how can we not note that Pope Francis is here, in the midst of an upsurge in Covid-19 cases, the only one not to have a mask? At 85, the sovereign pontiff indeed has the astonishing particularity of being a fierce opponent of anti-masks, “these protesters stuck in their little world of interests”, and, at the same time, to very rarely wear the mask himself, although it is less ostentatious than a tiara or red mules.