To think that someone should tell the Pope...

I thought the Pope costume was a bit much, but as Mishap said better that than the flagellation and bloodletting they enjoy in the South.

Loved your comment deedaa...lol

I thought it was more disconcerting seeing the child dressed up as the pope!!!

I'm just musing on what the take is on men wearing kilts or kameez or academic gowns. Or are these 'frocks' too.

I think the mother went to a lot of trouble to get herself noticed. It was nice to see this new pope just wearing a white jacket and not a frock.

It clearly wasn't a high point for the child.

if you were an Italian mother having the Pope kissing your child would be one of the high points of your life. Probably you would have to be Italian to think of dressing the poor child up as a Pope - over here it would probably be Spider Man.

I am not angered or outraged. I just don't understand why anyone would want strangers kissing their child.

I'm not a Catholic but can't understand why the anger and outrage?

Gally you have just said everything that I was going to. This story is a non starter.

Popes have always kissed children - haven't they? Obviously, it would be different if the parents were not there positively encouraging the kissing/hugging/blessing, but it was in front of thousands of other 'faithful' so I can't see the problem. It's a religious thing, so very different from a politician who, historically, kiss babies and children to gain votes. The parents have obviously been won over already. BTW I am not RC or of any particular religious persuasion, so I have no axe to grind. I just don't think the Pope being gentle and embracing a child, is particularly a problem. It's what is read into it by those who want to read something into it. (Could we have a dove of peace emoticon please!)

I just thought that given the fact that he is under fire (from the United Nations, no less) for not actually getting rid of the many paedophiles in the church, then going round kissing children was the worse possible kind of PR. Thought he was good at PR til now.

www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/05/un-denounces-vatican-child-abuse

No, don't see why anyone would want a politician to kiss their child either.

How is the Pope kissing/blessing a child any different from a politician kissing a baby? Or is this just about bashing the Catholic faith

Imagine the Kings Carol Service with the priest and choir boys in shirts and trousers.

Better than that grim Easter march in ?Italy where children watch their fathers crawl about on bits of broken glass and the aforementioned dads talk of how proud they will be when their sons do it. Yuk!

Absent do you object to C of E clergyman robes? Think coronation and suchlike. Shame to do away with the beautiful and different things in life.

Agree with dd.

Can't see a problem here. All over Europe children are dressing up in weird and wonderful clothes for the carnival processions. Almost every shop sells costumes. For the family it would have been a huge honour for the pope to bless the child.

I suppose it's because it's traditional. Bit like a wig and gown in court, but not quite as daft as Victoria Beckham's high heels.

Why does the Pope have to wear that? Why can't he wear an ordinary pair of trousers and a shirt? There's nothing magical about his frock. This is the twenty-first century.

I must say that I thought the outfit was des trop. (Well, something like that anyway)

PS The child's outfit that is, the pope has to wear that.

Ana ?
Obviously it happened - there are photos! I don't know what your point is

No Merlot. The Pope's not a Tory.

At least it was his own child!

MiceElf. Can you get non variant CJD if the pope kisses you??