howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
wouldn't be easter without the pontiff delivering his message in st peter's square.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/pope-syrian-regime-easter-messageGuest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#2
Very much identical to the article on Sky. But will the warring parties in the Middle East and Chad listen to the pope? Doubt it!
Interestingly, though, for any who may be interested that is, the title pontiff comes from the Latin: Maximus Pontefix.
This title was given to the Roman and Latin high priest centuries before the Roman Empire, and eventually became a title of the Roman Emperor.
It means, practically, builder of bridge(s) between God and human society.
Towards the end of the 4th century, when the Roman Emperors had been Christian for more than 150 years, one particular Emperor, possibly Gratian, on being elected in Ravenna, at that time the capital of the Western Roman Empire, chose not to go to Rome to receive from the Senate the title of Maximus Pontefix.
His reason being, he considered it a pagan title (in reality it isn't).
Some time after this, possibly a century or so, a pope decided for the first time to make use of this title, and ever since it has remained a title of the popes.
May-be our historical experts Paul Aka S and Phil can complete a few links in the generic chain of events presented here.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#3
A mistake: the Roman emperors had been Christian for more than 50 years, not 150, the first Christian emperor being Constantine.