Pope Francis condemns use of Crucifix as fashion statement

The Roman Catholic leader, Pope Francis has condemned the use of the religious symbol `the Crucifix’ (cross) as a fashion statement. According to the Pope, it is an outright abuse of the religious object.In a speech at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Pope Francis said that the religious symbol should be “contemplated and understood”, and “not be abused”.

Highlighting the religious meaning of the cross, he said:

“The crucifix is not an ornamental object or a clothing accessory which is sometimes abused, but a religious sign to be contemplated and understood.

He went further to say:

“The image of Jesus crucified reveals the mystery of the death of the Son as the supreme act of love, the source of life and salvation for humanity of all times.

How do I look at the crucifix? Like a work of art, to see if it’s beautiful or not beautiful? Or do I look inside, within the wounds of Jesus up to his heart? I look at the mystery of God annihilated to death, like a slave, like a criminal.”

His comments mirror those made by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2013, within the foreword of his first Lent book. Speaking about how the crucifix is used, Most Revd Justin Welby mentioned that the Crucifix has been an object of abuse among fashion lovers and it isn’t supposed to be so.

So far as an individual cannot hand an electric chair or a tiny golden gallows on his neck, they shouldn’t do to the crucifix.

He wrote:

“For those early Christians it was a badge of shame.

Today it is more commonly seen as a symbol of beauty to hang around your neck. ‘As a friend of mine used to say, ‘you might as well hang a tiny golden gallows or an electric chair around your neck’.”