The official list of titles of The Pope do not include “Pope”…they are Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, and the one I consider most significant:  Servant of the Servants of God.   Pope Francis certainly lived up to that title today as he began his Service by asking for prayers from the crowds for himself…

We will hear a lot in the next days and weeks about St. Francis of Assissi, founder of the Franciscan Order of Monks, who devoted his life to helping the poor and sick, inspired by Matthew 10:9 (look it up).  That was back in the 13th century and that Francis was legendary (no offense) for his love of people, animals, and nature.  May this Francis also be remembered so well.

We’ll also hear about the Society of Jesus, the religious order  founded in the 16th century by St. Ignatius of Loyola,  to which Pope Francis belongs.  It is known for its emphasis on evangelism with missions in 112 countries on 6 continents, aand also  education with established schools, universities, colleges, seminaries throughout the world (including Brebeuf, where the Jose’  boys were taught the faith).

But most importantly, we need to watch the hats…   Roman Catholic vestments are sacramental, unchanged from the beginning of the Church.  Priests don’t have to wear the hats when they are celebrating every  mass , though why on earth they wouldn’t want to sport a little biretta I can’t figure:

Isn’t it darling with its little pom-pom on top?  The bishops get to wear purple ones…

And how about this dandy little skullcap….

that they call a zuchetto, which must be Italian for yarmulke…

Everybody’s favorite, the mitre…

which comes in various levels of ornamentation, but is technically supposed to be always white.  It has some fringe-like things that hang down, not always noticed, so we’ll have to be looking when the High Services begin.

As we’re observing Catholic fashion in the upcoming ceremonies, please note the colors and their significance, especially the Cardinal red (the birds were named after it), the papal White.   And my Lutheran pastors could use a tip from the Priesthood:  black is so slimming…

I do pray with all my heart that throughout the Catholic Church there will be renewal and revival…  May God bless Pope Francis.