Community Chat

[Noel7]

I find this interesting, others might, also:

There are 29 modern monarchies reigning over 40 countries.

http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/g12797004/current-monarchy-countries-in-the-world...

[stuyvesant]

There is only one monarchy in the world that has a whole church establishment behind it.    That's the English monarchy.

I think about the Japanese guy.  He is divine, but there's not a whole religious establishment behind him.

I don't know how they are going to consecrete Charles as Defender of the Faith, By the Grace of God, King, and all the other stuff they lay on their monarch, and get away with it.  I'm pretty sure they will black out that part.  We'll get to see the jewelry and the clothes.  But the sacred coronation part will  be too sacred to share on TV.

The religious guys have pretty nifty clothes too.

[Noel7]

This is interesting, Wiki says "Currently there are 44 nations in the world with a monarch as head of state. They fall roughly into the following categories..."

I hadn't thought of this one:

"The Pope is the absolute monarch of the Vatican City State (different entity from the Holy See) by virtue of his position as head of the Roman Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome; he is an elected rather than hereditary ruler and does not have to be a citizen of the territory prior to his election by the cardinals."

[cherry]

I think the Vatican might be considered a Theocracy ,rather than a Monarchy @Noel7

[stuyvesant]

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wrote:

This is interesting, Wiki says "Currently there are 44 nations in the world with a monarch as head of state. They fall roughly into the following categories..."

I hadn't thought of this one:

"The Pope is the absolute monarch of the Vatican City State (different entity from the Holy See) by virtue of his position as head of the Roman Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome; he is an elected rather than hereditary ruler and does not have to be a citizen of the territory prior to his election by the cardinals."

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But everybody knows the Pope is a religious figure.  

The monarchy of England having anything to do with religion is startling to some people,

Honestly - I think the Pope wears scarlet slippers sometimes and white slippers other times.  We all talk about the Queen wearing hats that allow the gathered crowds to see her face and even on this thread people have posted what kind of flowers you're supposed to give her.  I don't think that comes into play with the pope.

[Noel7]

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wrote:

I think the Vatican might be considered a Theocracy ,rather than a Monarchy @Noel7

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It's not my opinion @cherry  It's straight from Wiki and other sources.

Numerous other references which say the same.

"These statements certainly describe the traditional trappings of the papal monarchy, the oldest monarchy in Europe. Historically, you can plausibly contend that the popes were exercising civil authority by the later sixth century, when Pope Gregory the Great (590-604) was forced, thanks to the vacuum of ..."  Huffington Post

PBS also has a report which addresses it as a monarchy.

[stuyvesant]

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wrote:

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wrote:

I think the Vatican might be considered a Theocracy ,rather than a Monarchy @Noel7

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It's not my opinion @cherry  It's straight from Wiki and other sources.

Numerous other references which say the same.

"These statements certainly describe the traditional trappings of the papal monarchy, the oldest monarchy in Europe. Historically, you can plausibly contend that the popes were exercising civil authority by the later sixth century, when Pope Gregory the Great (590-604) was forced, thanks to the vacuum of ..."  Huffington Post

PBS also has a report which addresses it as a monarchy.

I think the Engish monarchy broke away from the Papal monarchy and formed its own Church.  (Are all those PBS shows wrong?)

[stuyvesant]

I have to say, I'm bewildered by people's refusal to acknowledge the religious aspect of the English monarchy.  It's been a very powerful and constant part of their history.

[Noel7]

@cherry

I found this on the History channel site:

"Vatican City is the smallest country in the world.
Encircled by a 2-mile border with Italy, Vatican City is an independent city-state that covers just over 100 acres, making it one-eighth the size of New York’s Central Park. Vatican City is governed as an absolute monarchy with the pope at its head."

http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-vatican

[cherry]

The red slippers signify the blood of the martyrs. All of the papal clothing is symbolic ,dating back centuries ,as are the liturgical  vestments.  Some of it mimics the ancient Roman form of dress . The antique vestments are works of art

There is a bit of protocol  when people visit the Pope. For instance women always have their head covered. Queen Elizabeth really looked splendid when she was there. She wore a floor length black dress, and   a black veil or mantilla. I can't recall which it was

Woman must dress modestly. Men might have to wear a suit, I'm not sure about that one..