The Church Kneels - Francis Stands
Please, check the photo below: While everybody was kneeling, Pope Francis remained standing in front of the Blessed Sacrament on December 31, 2018.
On that day he sang the Vespers in St Peter’s Basilica. Before the Te Deum in thanksgiving for 2018, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed.
Francis stood for 20 minutes in front of the monstrance, although a kneeler was in front of him. The Catholic Liturgy requires the faithful to kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament. A pope is not above the liturgy.
It has become Francis' pattern to kneel neither in front of the Blessed Sacrament nor during consecration.
He loves, however, kneeling for Anglican martyrs and bowing his knees to wash the feet of immigrants, prisoners or transvestites.
M.G.
