UPDATE 15 Sept:
Fr. Hunwicke has added tuppence.
In Mozambique Francis said Mass wearing a chasuble with leopard skin gallons.
A close look at large photos suggests that it is the real thing: the fur of a dead leopard worn during a public liturgical rite.
Hence, the signer of Laudato sì wore the skin of an endangered species in public, in a clear approbation of the killing and skining of leopards.
Of course if it’s fake leopard skin… that’s almost worse, for obvious reasons.
At least it wasn’t a wolf skin.
Will we now see the Fishwrap types praise Card. Burke when he submits to wearing ermine (i.e., fur of an animal)?
You can hear the libs minds grinding.
“But… but… but…”, sputter the libs, “It’s not Francis’ fault! No, wait. There’s nothing wrong with it because it’s, you know, cultural. Endangered is such a slippery term. Maybe leopards are a nuisance there! Maybe.. no… wait, I don’t mean that these beautiful creatures who have more right to live in Africa than people do are… no, ummm… I don’t want you to think I’m speciesist or racist! Only conservatives are racists! No, the leopard thing… ha ha!… well… you know, they in their un-racist simplicity put it out there for him to wear and so he wore it. If Africans shouldn’t tell Synod Fathers what to say, then we shouldn’t tell them what to wear! Right? After all… Vatican II! So, he is just… you know… so humble he just put it on. Card. Burke, however, when he puts on things people put out for him to wear is being arrogant and oppressive. He hates animals and … HE HATES VATICAN II!”
In any event, it is good to know that the use of the fur of animals is in vogue again.
UPDATE:
A reader sent me this.
Loading ...
Who new the Pope was following this Fall’s hottest fashion trend…leopard! Personally I would suggest ermine, the leopard print clashes with his complexion.
According to wikipedia: “Many of the characteristic African species–large mammals such as the elephant, rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, and antelope and predators such as lions and leopards–do not exist in Madagascar.”
So at least it wasn’t Madagascan leopards that have paid the price for the Pope’s gallons.
[But the leopards of Mozambique – where Francis was – are running scared.]
Apparently leopards are the opposite of endangered, in Mozambique, and there are lots of legal hunting opportunities. Of course, this means that the leopards also get hunting opportunities.
Leopard skin? This is great.
Meanwhile, Libs everywhere are slumped over on their yoga mats, weeping into their arugula casseroles, leafing listlessly through the Fishwrap and Laudato Si, wondering how it all went wrong.
God willing, next May Day we will see Pope Francis clad in bearskin and wielding Pope Leo the Great’s Holy Sword, wading into a crowd of godless Commies.
All that is gold does not glitter
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes, a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
Ok, mercy for the Libs is in order. To buoy their spirits they will all receive a Papa Ganganelli/Chesty Puller Gift Basket: a CD of Gregorian chant, a Scapular, the latest copy of Guns&Ammo, and a can of Spam.
[YUT!]
[Perhaps we could add an annual membership to the NRA?]
Everything about Francis roars with controversy.
Semper G: along with the can of Spam, perhaps also a knotted handerchief… to keep their heads from exploding (and their brains from hurting)?
Mind you, I think the wooden Staff is rather good, albeit there’s no Corpus.
with that fabulous chasuble, can there be any doubt that the lavender mafia is in charge?
I absolutely hate misbegotten attempts at inculturation. I have known many, many Africans from various countries on the African continent — not one ever wore leopard (or kinta cloth for that matter). I think this get up is pandering and culturally insensitive.
I will say the pope does not look happy in he photograph,and yes I do think that lavender group had something to do with it.
OMG! Cultural appropriation! How offensive and insensitive!
Fr. Z: A sterling idea, along with membership in the St. Gabriel Possenti Society.
jaykay: Good idea, a knotted handkerchief…or maybe a ballcap, colored red, with a certain acronym…
Faux leopardskin is de riguer in certain sartorial situations. When attending a 60’s-themed party in a pillbox hat; when you’ve been installed as the monocrat of a post-colonial nation and your usual cloth barracks cap isn’t formal enough for Buck Palace; when having drinks with Dustin Hoffman; when your sequined thong is in the wash and you’re next on pole. What this lib sees above are medieval styles being modeled by men nearly as old.
Church of Man and it’s pandering CEO. Let it proceed apace down the road until it collapses.
Attention libs,
Animals die in all kinds of ways. Some when attacking villages. Others of natural causes. It would be wasteful not to use the pelts.
But on a personal note I don’t think a leopard print is stylish for New York unless you come from a warm climate area. Unless, of course it is a gift or on an African Saint day. I think Francis’ is quite nice. Now the one Burke is wearing(Is that wolf?) is perfect for cold weather and what are they supposed to do with all the older stuff? Throw it away? Use what they’ve got and spend less on new in fashion and give the money to the poor.
I wonder if this has a trigger warning for people with sensitive dispositions?
Does anyone know, was this a local gift or part of a local set that he wore there, or did he bring this along with him? I don’t think we’ve seen this one before. I’m just remembering the chausible with a swirly pattern for one of his trips that was produced locally for the event. Gifts can be tricky to navigate…