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Papal Worship and Ring Kissing in Catholic Tradition

The act of kissing, particularly in religious contexts, carries diverse meanings ranging from affection and salutation to homage and worship. In biblical traditions, kissing is frequently depicted as a sign of affection among family members, reconciliation, or leave-taking [1, 2]. Examples include Jacob kissing Rachel (Genesis 29:11) and the father kissing the prodigal son (Luke 15:20) [8].

Beyond familial affection, the "holy kiss" or "kiss of charity" was a practice in the early Christian church, mentioned in several New Testament epistles (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14) [3, 4, 5]. This kiss symbolized brotherly love and Christian fellowship [1, 7]. Early Church writers like Justin Martyr and the Apostolic Constitutions describe this custom as being passed through the congregation during communion, with men kissing men and women kissing women [7]. Tyndale House notes that such kissing on the cheek or forehead was a common greeting reflecting honor, friendship, and love [8]. The Summa Theologica by Aquinas discusses actions performed in celebrating sacraments as having a twofold manner of signification, by words and by actions, to make the meaning more perfect [12].

However, the act of kissing can also signify homage or even worship, particularly in idolatrous contexts. The Bible records instances where kissing an image or directing one's hand toward an image was a form of idol worship (1 Kings 19:18; Hosea 13:2) [1]. John Gill, commenting on Job 31:25, notes that secret idolatry can involve an "honourable esteem" or "reverence and affection" for perceived deities, even without overt physical acts [6]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on 1 Kings 19:18, explains that idolaters often kissed their hand in honor of their idols, which is the origin of the term "adoration" [11]. The Babylonian Talmud also addresses the act of embracing and kissing an idol, distinguishing between doing so in its standard manner of worship (which incurs liability) and doing so in a non-standard way [9].

Within Catholic tradition, the kissing of the Pope's ring, known as the Fisherman's Ring, is a gesture of reverence and respect for the Pope's office as the successor of Peter and head of the Catholic Church. This act is understood not as worship of the man himself, but as veneration of the authority and spiritual significance he represents [13, 15]. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes the reverence due to sacred persons and objects within the Church's liturgical and devotional life. This practice falls under the broader category of veneration, which is distinct from the adoration (latria) reserved for God alone.

Protestant traditions, particularly those with Reformed roots, often view such practices with caution, emphasizing the biblical prohibitions against idolatry and the worship of created beings. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, frequently critiques practices he perceives as detracting from the sole worship due to God [10, 14]. While not directly addressing papal ring-kissing, the Reformed emphasis on sola Scriptura and the direct access of believers to God through Christ tends to lead to a rejection of gestures that might be perceived as venerating a human leader to an extent that borders on worship. The concern is often that such acts, even if intended as veneration, can easily be misunderstood or lead to an undue focus on human authority rather than divine.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kiss — Of affection (Gen. 27:26, 27; 29:13; Luke 7:38, 45); reconciliation (Gen. 33:4; 2 Sam. 14:33); leave-taking (Gen. 31:28, 55; Ruth 1:14; 2 Sam. 19:39); homage (Ps. 2:12; 1 Sam. 10:1); spoken of as between parents and children (Gen. 27:26; 31:28, 55; 48:10; 50:1; Ex. 18:7; Ruth 1:9, 14); between male relatives (Gen. 29:13; 33:4; 45:15). It accompanied social worship as a symbol of brotherly love (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14). The worship of idols was by kissing the image or the hand toward the image (1 Kings 19:18; Hos. 13:”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Kiss — Kissing the lips by way of affectionate salutation was customary among near relatives of both sexes, in both patriarchal and later times. (Genesis 29:11; Song of Solomon 8:1) Between individuals of the same sex, and in a limited degree between those of different sexes, the kiss on the cheek as a mark of respect or an act of salutation has at all times been customary in the East, and can hardly be said to be extinct even in Europe. In the Christian Church the kiss of charity was practiced not only as a friendly salutation, but as an act symbolical of love and Ch”
  3. II Corinthians “II Corinthians 13:12 (BBE) — Give one another a holy kiss.”
  4. Romans “Romans 16:16 (BBE) — Give one another a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send their love to you.”
  5. I Peter “I Peter 5:14 (BBE) — Give one another the kiss of love. Peace be to you all in Christ.”
  6. Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 31:25: And mine heart hath been secretly enticed,.... Drawn away by beholding the magnitude of these bodies, the swiftness of their motion, their glorious appearance, and great usefulness to mankind, to entertain a thought of their being deities; and privately to worship them, in secret acts of devotion, as by an honourable esteem of them as such, reverence and affection for them, trust and confidence in them; for, as there is a secret worshipping of the true God, so there is a secret idolatry, idolatry in the heart, and setting up of idols there, as well as worshipping them i”
  7. 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 5:26: Hence it appears this Epistle was first handed to the elders, who communicated it to "the brethren." holy kiss--pure and chaste. "A kiss of charity" (Pe1 5:14). A token of Christian fellowship in those days (compare Luk 7:45; Act 20:37), as it is a common mode of salutation in many countries. The custom hence arose in the early Church of passing the kiss through the congregation at the holy communion [JUSTIN MARTYR, Apology, 1.65; Apostolic Constitutions, 2.57], the men kissing the men, and the women the women, in the Lord. So in the Syrian ”
  8. 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 5:26: 5:26 a sacred kiss (see also Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Pet 5:14): Kissing on the cheek or forehead was a common form of greeting that reflected such sentiments as honor, friendship, and love among family members (Mark 14:44-45; Luke 7:36-47; 15:20; Acts 20:37).”
  9. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 56b.14: The Gemara asks: Embracing and kissing an idol in what manner? If we say that he did so in its standard manner of worship, i.e., that embracing and kissing is the standard method of worshipping this idol, certainly he is liable to receive the death penalty. Rather, it is stated to exclude a case where he did not do so in its standard manner of worship.”
  10. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 101: were examined by the bishop in terms of the Catechism which was then in common use. In order that this act, which otherwise justly required to be grave and holy, might have more reverence and dignity, the ceremony of laying on of hands was also used. Thus the boy, on his faith being approved, was dismissed with a solemn blessing. Ancient writers often make mention of this custom. Pope Leo says (Ep. 39), “If any one returns from heretics, let him not be baptised 2626 again, but let that which was there wanting to him—viz. the virtu”
  11. 1 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 19:18: Seven thousand in Israel - That is, many thousands; for seven is a number of perfection, as we have often seen: so, The barren has borne seven - has had a numerous off-spring; Gold seven times purified - purified till all the dross is perfectly separated from it. The court and multitudes of the people had gone after Baal; but perhaps the majority of the common people still worshipped in secret the God of their fathers. Every mouth which hath not kissed him - Idolaters often kissed their hand in honor of their idols; and hence the origin of adoration - bringing the”
  12. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Rite of This Sacrament, Art. 5: Article: Whether the actions performed in celebrating this sacrament are becoming? I answer that, As was said above (Question [60], Article [6]), there is a twofold manner of signification in the sacraments, by words, and by actions, in order that the signification may thus be more perfect. Now, in the celebration of this sacrament words are used to signify things pertaining to Christ's Passion, which is represented in this sacrament; or again, pertaining to Christ's mystical body, which is signified th”
  13. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, 3. the anagogical sense (Greek: anagoge, "leading"). We can view (part 2): 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, the Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi. The New Testament: the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of St. Paul to the Romans, ”
  14. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 4:5-6 4:6 4:11 4:12 4:18 Colossians 1:2-3 1:4 1:5 1:5 1:9-10 1:12 1:13 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:16 1:16 1:16-18 1:17 1:18 1:19-20 1:20 1:20 1:21 1:21-22 1:24 1:24 1:26 1:26 1:26 2:2 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:10 2:11 2:12 2:12 2:13-14 2:14 2:14 2:14-15 2:16 2:16-17 2:17 2:17 2:17 2:19 2:20 2:20-21 2:23 2:23 3:1 3:1 3:1-2 3:2 3:3 3:3 3:4 3:5 3:6 3:10 3:10 3:11 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:16 3:19 3:24 3:25 4:3 4:17 1 Thessalonians 1:5 2:13 2:18 2:20 3:5 3:12 3:13 4:3 4:4 4:5 4:7 4:7 4:15 4:16 4:16 4:16-17 5:2 5:9 5:17-18 5:19 ”
  15. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, 24. (part 1): 24. 20 Cf. DV 3. 21 Dt 28: 10; Roman Missal, Good i Friday, General Intercession VI; see also Ex 19:6 22 Cf. Is 2:2-4; Jer 31:31-34; Heb 10:16 23 Cf. Ezek 36; Is 49:5-6; 53:11 24 Cf. Ezek 2:3; Lk 1:38 Previous - NextCopyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText HelpCatechism of the Catholic Church IntraText - TextPART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITHSECTION ONE "I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"CHAPTER TWO GOD COMES TO MEET MANArticle 1 THE REVELATION OF GODIII. Christ Jesus -- "Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation"Pr”
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