Leaders and crowned heads from many countries attended the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI. Poland was represented by President Andrzej Duda, who – alone – made a symbolic gesture – he knelt before the coffin of the retired pope. The president’s attitude sparked a debate on the Internet.
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President Duda’s symbolic gesture
According to the will of Pope Benedict XVI, two delegations officially took part in his funeral: Italian and German. Other representatives of states and crowned heads attended in their personal capacity, as was emphasized. A photo was posted on Twitter of the President’s Chancellery of the moment of transfer after the celebrations in St. Peter’s coffin with the senior pope’s body to the caves of the Vatican. President Duda was the only one who knelt before the coffin to pay tribute to Benedict XVI.
Fox: Taunts are out of place
The symbolic gesture of the president caused great emotions in the network. Many people supported Andrzej Duda. Interestingly, among them was Tomasz Lis.
The president can be criticized and ridiculed just like anyone else, a right I am happy to exercise myself. But the mockery of the president kneeling before the coffin while the body of the late pope is carried before him seems to me out of place.
Tomasz Lis wrote on Twitter.
Symbols are very important. The Polish president was the only one who knelt before Benedict XVI’s coffin. Huge respect to @AndrzejDuda here.
It is not only an elegantiarum arbitrator, but also an eloquent gesture of respect for a great man – an authority of our time.
Sikorski: He mustn’t kneel
In turn, Radosław Sikorski was one of the critics of President Duda’s attitude, stating in a Twitter post that since the president was in the Vatican on business, he was not allowed to kneel.
I believe that as a pilgrim @AndrzejDuda would have the right to show personal piety, but he flew there on business, as the head of a secular state and he is not allowed to kneel
said Radoslaw Sikorski.
He was accompanied by the Jesuit Krzysztof Mądel, who is not afraid to speak out on political subjects and to criticize those in power.
Especially since the late pope is not an altar
Madel added.
Janusz Palikot also joined the group of critics stating that “Duda is the state and the state does not kneel.”
Let’s not forget that during the funeral ceremonies only delegations from two countries, Italy and Germany, were official. The other heads of state and government were present in a personal capacity.
wkt/PAP/TT/Vatican News
Source: wPolityce