How to Greet the Pope

The pope is an international leading figure who demands, by his office, respect and appropriately conservative dress and behavior.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dresses
• Women's Pants Or Dress Men's Suits
• Airline Tickets

1. Dress appropriately, regardless of your views on dress codes and personal liberty.

2. Choose a dark suit for a private or semiprivate audience with the pope, if you're a man.

3. Select a dress that covers your shoulders and reaches near your knees, if you're a woman. Dress pants are acceptable these days, but were not in earlier times.

4. Addressing the pope by letter, one writes to His Holiness, the Pope or His Holiness Pope __________, Vatican City, 00817 Rome, Italy.

5. Use the following salutation: Your Holiness or Most Holy Father.

6. Say "Your Holiness" or "Most Holy Father" when speaking directly to the pontiff, no matter what your religious affiliation.

7. Listen to the pope's assistants for instructions on where to stand in the audience room.

8. Make a low bow, or go down on one knee, when being presented to the pontiff. Once again, disregard your religious affiliation.

9. Take the pope's right hand and kiss his ring if you're a Catholic.

10. Take and shake the pope's right hand if you're not a Catholic.

Tips & Warnings

• Prepare something to say to the pontiff if you receive a rare private or semiprivate audience. Keep in mind that the pope is accustomed to these small meetings and is usually well-prepared.
• Only heads of state need worry about a gift, which is usually something official.
• In semiprivate or private audiences, the pope usually offers his visitors a small gift of a religious nature; for example, a rosary or medallion.
• Although not particularly formal, any visit with the pope is strictly organized and accompanied by high security.
• No gloves, please.

[Olorin88]

on 1/10/2009 Oh come on folks... it seems ridiculous that I seem to need to point out what follows. His Holiness is the unquestioned spiritual leader of about a billion, but more importantly, and to the point, he is also a head of State; the Vatican being an sovereign nation. Would anyone, pagan, Buddhist, or Christian really balk at the notion of addressing a head of state by their given title?

Ambassadors to the courts of rulers in China would historically have to approach the on their knees. I can't imagine they enjoyed the process or agreed with the implicit statements their actions made but they did it because that's the way the world works. To those who can't understand, grow up.

[SaintPlazma]

on 12/27/2008 I'm also a Pagan however given the chance to meet the Pope I would jump on it. The man is an embodiment of the divine for billions, and should be respected for that, the fact none oh us here are divine who are we to judge beliefs and traditions of others. Lastly Medea I remind you that this isn't the same pope and the fact that enlightenment is the end goal of many pagan paths, don't let your prejudges prevent you from that goal, in this life or the next.

[katygirl85]

on 12/2/2008 For it is written in the Holy Bible that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Not the pope. Jesus Christ died for our sins, not the pope.
Therefore, the pope has no power to forgive sin. He is mere man - not God.

[skittlesj526]

on 11/4/2008 I WILL NOT bow to an earthly man. He is not The most holy father, nor Father, or anything else. He is just the next Catholic guy near death who was selected by other men to be called the pope. Only ONE person died for His church and His name is Christ. Catholicism is pagan, a denomination, and an abomination. You will NOT find it in the Bible. I wish I could meet this man called the "pope" so I could have the chance to NOT bow, NOT kiss him, and show reverence to the only Most Holy, God the Father, God the Son, and God and the Holy Ghost!

[basketpam]

on 9/13/2008 I feel very sorry for mammamedea. She does not understand the blessings which she has missed in her life. Being associated with a religious organization brings more benefits than just "being saved." Being part of a medical community I have wittnessed and have had physicians tell me they have wittnessed many things that cannot be explained be normal logic. I wonder if this woman really understand that pagen means worshiping multiple Gods or if she means athiest? I wonder if her pagen Gods can perform the same miracles as our "one God?" I think I'll stick with something more tried and true like honoring the Pope. There's a reason that the old pagen religions in Rome and Greece died away, they just didn't work. I"ve been to the Vatican but didn't get to meet the Pope. I'd give anything for the opportunity. I'm not sure the women do wear veils anymore as stated in one comment but I'm s