Inside the Beltway – washtimes
I’m trying to figure out if this is a joke or not!
Parochial attire
White House correspondents planning to cover the upcoming meeting between President Bush and Pope John Paul II are being told to sport their Sunday best.
“Men should wear dark suits and dark shoes,” says a White House memo. “Women should wear dark skirts — below the knee — covered legs, and closed-toe shoes. Women meeting the Pope are required to wear a veil.”
If lady scribes don’t own a veil, one will be provided by a White House advance team.
This is pretty typical Vatican/Italian Basilica attire. Some of them won’t let you in with improper attire.
Nope, it’s not a joke. Unless you are meeting His Holiness in your native dress, or during an event like World Youth Day, you are required to dress this way for an audience.
And that means everyone, from heads of state to journalists to paupers. They lend you the clothes (or give them to you) if you have nothing like this, or can’t afford to buy it.
During WYD, all bets are off, at the Pope’s insistence. He will refuse to hug someone dressed very immodestly (no bikini tops, please!), but he will meet with them, and will hug, shake hands, etc with those dressed sensibly (shorts and T-shirts).
Cin is correct. This is standard dress for meeting the Holy Father. With regards to women’s dress, another exception is for a woman who happens to be both Catholic and a head of state. She is permitted to wear white instead of black.
If you go to the St. Peter’s basilica in Rome, you cannot get in unless you are wearing pants (men) and a long skirt (women).
I like the symbol of respect.
I think the privilege of wearing white in the presence of the Pope is strictly for Catholic queens (and the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg), not all heads of state; something I gleaned from Joseph Noonan’s book, The Church Visible. I believe that even Princess Grace, since she was not a queen, wore black in the presence of the Pope. I also heard that when Queen Elizabeth II made a state visit to the Vatican (in 1982?), she was given the option of wearing white, but chose to wear black instead. Very diplomatic of her.
That’s not so, Jeff. I’ve been to St. Peter’s many times and there are all kinds of casual clothing seen there. They draw the line at scandalously bare clothing–ie swimsuits, short-shorts, bare midriffs, etc.
Men do wear bermuda (knee-length) shorts, women do wear pants and other casual attire.
I wonder what John Kerry will wear…..his battle fatigues? Or Mrs. Heinz-Kerry? What a scream to see her wearing a veil…….Lord, how’s it all gonna end up?
Clothing appropriate for private audiences is more dressy, though. The long skirt business would be recommended for that.
But visiting basilicas in Rome, including St. Peter’s, is quite casual for many people.
Well unless you are from some tropical place which Europeans imagine is idyllic and then you can go with your belly-button hanging out.
Although you’d probably wear jeans and smoke lucky strikes at home.
LSMFT!
While I can understand these protocols of state, I am saddened at the way such rules can work against ecumenism – fostering a sense of rejection, even sectarianism, in Catholic cities popular among tourists. Good friends complained of being turned away from an Easter Sunday church service in Venice because their college-age daughter’s dress was above the knee! While vacationing, as regular church goers unable to find a Presbyterian service to attend, dressed in their Sunday best, they made a good faith effort to share the joys of the season with fellow Christians at the Catholic church nearest their hotel. Does the Holy Father’s appeal for a “new evangelization” only apply to churches off the beaten track or should not all Catholics be welcoming all non-catholics?
Clare:
Although I understand your concerns, I have to point this out: If your friends are interested in true ecumenism, shouldn’t they have done a bit of research into the clothing requirements of Italian Catholic churches and basilicas first?
We have a secular guidebook of Italy in our house, circa 2002, that clearly stipulates any clothing requirements in any public building, including churches. It also has a tips page, that says many churches allow casual clothes for visiting hours, but require head coverings and long skirts for Mass attendance.
The world is not the United States (or Canada, which is where I live.) When Americans and Canadians travel, we should remember that, and try to live up to the social mores and morals of the country, and the Church we’re entering.
Honestly, I find it ignorant that your friends didn’t at least consult a guidebook before going to Mass.
Frankly, no one in any country should be showing up at Easter Mass (which is not a service, it’s Mass) in anything showing bare knees. How utterly disrespectful.
Ecumenism is based on true, informed respect. I’m truly sorry your friends’ feelings were hurt, and I’m even more sorry they didn’t have the honour of observing our Lord in the Eucharist, but their daughter’s mode of dress was disrespectful to the very people the family was trying to respect through sharing Easter celebrations.
And I’m not some old fogey, BTW. I’m 27 years old, just a few years off “college-age.” Age does not excuse immodesty and ignorance.
Finally (sorry this is so long), a tip from a Redomptorist priest who writes an “Ask Padre” column for the Ligouri bulletin. He was recently asked what Catholics can do, and not do, in the name of ecumenism.
His reponse: We may always refrain from doing something that we are permitted to do, to show respect for another’s faith. But we are never allowed to do something (or permit something to be done in our churches)that we are forbidden to do (such as immodesty) to show respect. Why? Because that shows shame in our own faith and beliefs.