The Popes hat looks similar to a yarmulke, does it originate from Jewish tradition?
He is the leader of the Catholic Church, which is distinct and separate from the Protestant Church, so there is no connection between how the Pope dresses and how Protestant ministers dress; you’ll notice that Catholic priests are usually in “uniform”; they can wear regular clothes, but usually wear their uniform while performing the duties of their office. The Pope has to set an example for ALL his bishops and priests, and is pretty much always “on the job”, so he needs to look the part. Yes, the head covering is similar to a Jewish kippah – please note that Jews hardly ever call it a yarmulke, they almost always call it a kippa (kee-pah) or kippot (kee-pote). The Catholic Church shared a lot of customs with Judaism, and these skullcaps were common for non-Jews as well in the Middle Ages. It’s a way of keeping your head always covered before God, as the Bible instructs, without having to wear a troublesome hat.
Catholics will definitely find my answer rude, oh well, I always say I’m not looking for fans here. The Pope’s outfit looks to me, like a costume on an actor. True Christianity begins in your heart, and high and mighty outfit will not make you any more of a Christian than sitting at McDonalds makes you a cheeseburger. I find his traditions inherently insulting, mostly because he KNOWS BETTER, but he has this notion that the church has more authority than the Bible. You may call him a “vicar of Christ” if you like. He is a man, and has to answer to God just like the rest of us, with no more or less authority than I have. We are equal under God.
