Roman Idolatry | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 23, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 37.

Roman Idolatry.

When John, the seer of Patmos, would have worshiped at the feet of the angel who showed him the glorious things which are in store for the people of God, that heavenly being said, “See thou do it not; I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus; worship God.” Rev. 19:10; 22:8, 9. Likewise the apostle Peter, who according to papal tradition was the first pope, refused to receive homage from Cornelius, but said unto him, “Stand up; I myself also am a man.” But the Pope of Rome, the pretended successor of Saint Peter, requires his fellow-men to prostrate themselves before him and very graciously allows the faithful “to kiss the golden cross which is embroidered on his white slipper!” The following extract from an Eastern paper affords a good illustration of the abominable idolatry of the Roman Catholic Church:—

“THE POPE’S TREATMENT OF VISITORS.

“Pope Leo XIII. is more fond of ceremony than his predecessor, as the following account of a private audience illustrates: As soon as the Pope is at liberty, Monsignor Macchi opens the door and announces the visitor. Entering the room, the Pope is found seated in an arm-chair, and as soon as he raises his hand in act of benediction, the visitor falls on his knees once near the door, the second time in the middle of the room, and the third time immediately in front of the Holy Father, who extends his foot for the visitor to kiss the gold cross which is embroidered on his white slipper. After subsequently kissing the superb sapphire which forms his pastoral ring, the visitor rises and remains standing during the interview. The Pope himself generally likewise rises and leans against a large table which constitutes almost the sole furniture of this apartment. Only the cardinals are allowed to sit in his presence on two stools which are placed on either side of his arm-chair for the purpose.

“The Pope always begins the conversation. He talks much and at great length. He seems to listen to the sound of his own voice, and his conversation, which becomes animated, frequently struck me as being remarkable for a picturesque eloquence which he is careful to avoid in his public speeches. When he motions that the audience is at an end, the slipper and the ring are again kissed while he is in the act of pronouncing the benediction, and then one has to back out, making the same three genuflexions as on entering.”