Posted by Henri M on March 17, 2013, 4:11 am, in reply to "Re: Habemus Papam!"
Johannes XXIII was seen as a most humble and human Pope, yet he did use all possible papal splendour to the max and remained popular to the day of today.
His successor, Paulus VI, was a most sober and ascetic living pope. He was the first one to throw it all out of the window: the tiara, the choirdress, the mozetta, the famous chair, he even auctioned off a diamond studded pectoral cross, maybe he was even more humble than Bergoglio, but this Pope is almost forgotten.
This means that the connection between presentation and popularity is not one-on-one. A rich, well-fed, round pope can be more popular than an ascetic living sober pope. See Johannes XXIII vs Paulus VI.
--Previous Message-- : He can't sell the most precious and rich works : of art inside the Vatican City but he can : present himself in a most simple way than : his predecessor if he thinks that's the most : appropriate look for the Bishop of Rome. : : If some people identify themselves with that : way of he's presenting, than he was : achieving a most precious goal by calling : people to the Church. : : --Previous Message-- : I like the human approach of the Pope but I : also liked the tradition upheld by : Benedictus XVI. All those stories about 'how : sober' the new Pope lived (in his own : appartment, taking the bus) irritated me a : bit. Cardinal Ratzinger equally lived a very : sober life, living in a small appartment in : Trastevere with his piano as the only luxury : he permitted himself. Ratzinger was known : for going to the Vatican by feet, greeting : the neighbours, the shopowners, the people : on the street and always having something : for the stray cats, as he was (and is) a cat : lover. : : Now people are almost fainting because : Cardinal Bergoglio was apparently such a : simple man, always taking a bus. He has set : the first tone by leaving the mozetta and : the choir dress and even the papal stole : aside during his first appearance on the : balcony. It is a false accusation that it : would save money or something, as Benedictus : XVI very frequently wore mitres, chasubles, : stoles, pectoral crosses or used chairs, : desks and other items which wear all already : available and used by other Popes before : him. : : Pope Johannes XVIII was more or less like : Bergoglio, but he remained true to the : splendor of the papacy. The new Pope must be : careful not to manoeuvre himself in an : impossible position. 'Pope of the Poor' but : at the same time he can not close down the : Vatican Musea with all the treasures inside, : he can not auction off all those splendid : jewels because these artworks are THE : milking cow of the Holy See and bring : enormous amounts of money to maitain the : papal administration. : : Pic: Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, : Archbishop of Buenos Aires celebrating Mass : in the Cathedral, look at the immense : splendour (so he will not sell the : tablesilver...) : : : :