Pope Francis prevented many people who greeted him in a Rome church this week from kissing his ring, a tradition in the Catholic church that goes back centuries.
LifeSite News posted a clip of the pope meeting Catholics in the Holy House of Loreto on Monday. After allowing some people to kiss his ring, he quickly pulled his right hand back when others tried to do so.
According to the website, kissing the pope's ring is a way to show respect and reverence to his position. The Washington Post reported, however, that westerners often forgo the practice and greet the pope in more traditional ways instead.
Vatican journalist John Allen told the Post that Francis was likely trying to distance himself from some of the more traditional aspects of the papacy, including what he called "subservience." Francis has also made himself a pope of the people and often goes out of his way to greet pilgrims and make himself publicly available.