Day 10- Papa Francesco

We woke up and left the dorms by 6:30 in order to leave for an audience with the pope.  To be honest, I had no idea what to expect, but as we neared the walls of Vatican City, I could already begin to appreciate the vastness of this Pope's audience.  Pope Francis has been receiving larger crowds than was historically normal.  While I was very excited for this opportunity, I was extremely curious about what was to happen in St. Peter's Square that warranted swarms of people arriving three hours before the Pope was to show.  When Pope Francis finally stepped onto the stage and addressed the crowd, I saw the large group of people go completely crazy.

Pope Francis greeting his fans

For years, this audience with the Pope offered to the public has been a popular place for Catholics and non-Catholics combined to be able to see and hear the leader of the church.  Pope Francis, however, is drawing more crowds than usual.  I got to thinking- isn't this near-worship of the Pope a form of idolatry?  Should we be greeting Pope Francis with such fervor?
In class, we discussed the veneration of the saints and the controversies that surrounded this worship.  Eventually, at the Council of Trent, the church agreed on guidelines through which saints, relics, and holy images may be invocated.  This decree explains that the veneration of saints may be used, but not in substitution for worship of God:  "Moreover, that the images of Christ, of the Virgin Mother of God, and of other saints, are to be had... and that due honor and veneration are to be given them:  not that any divinity, or virtue, is believed to be in them."
The worshipper must understand, according to the Council, that God is above all, and that these saints are not in any way gods, in themselves.  Although, the Catholic community understands that the Pope is not a god, the incredible excitement surrounding Pope Francis demonstrated today makes me wonder if people may forget the words of the Council, and begin to escalate the Pope to a god-like worship.