pope has his own perfume

Gloriana The Faerie Queen · Mar 15, 2012

Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston may be the type of public figures expected to roll out their own signature scent. But that hasn't stopped Pope Benedict XVI from having an eau de cologne created for His Holiness, the Telegraph reports.

Created by Italian Silvana Casoli, the cologne is infused with lemon tree blossom and the smell of spring grass, conveying the Pope's love of nature and wildlife as well as peace and tranquility, according to the Irish Times.

Other celebrities the master perfumer has worked with include Sting, Madonna and King Juan Carlos of Spain.

Unlike other perfumes, the scent won't be sold to the public and is to only be worn by the Pope, explains Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

ok this is just strange! seems like abit of an indulgence (excuse the pun) from a church that frankly has lost alot of credibility over the last 2 decades. I often wonder what is running through B16's head sometimes.

Ann_of_Love · Mar 15, 2012

Everyone loves a good scent, but wouldn't His Holiness get better PR if he went to Bath and Bodyworks like the rest of us? I'm sure he could get some Catholic ladies to help him out.

Theofane · Mar 15, 2012

I don't like the idea of the Pope having his own perfume line. It's just not right.

AndrewRD · Mar 15, 2012

It seems a little silly to me, but hey, being the Pope has to have a few perks here and there, right?

PaladinValer · Mar 15, 2012

It doesn't bother me, and it isn't because I'm not Vatican Catholic.

Anyone is allowed to dabble in a hobby; why should ++Benny be somehow unable? I could, if I had the knowledge and equipment, create my own fragrance; is it wrong of me to do so? If not me, what is so wrong with the Pope doing so? What is so different between perfume and, say, chess? I could have a special chess set made especially for me if I wanted to; why couldn't the pope?

And by the way, an indulgence is an ecclesiastical dispensation to forgo penance for sins confessed and/or absolved of. What is sinful about perfume-making?

Gloriana The Faerie Queen · Mar 16, 2012

PaladinValer said:
It doesn't bother me, and it isn't because I'm not Vatican Catholic.

Anyone is allowed to dabble in a hobby; why should ++Benny be somehow unable? I could, if I had the knowledge and equipment, create my own fragrance; is it wrong of me to do so? If not me, what is so wrong with the Pope doing so? What is so different between perfume and, say, chess? I could have a special chess set made especially for me if I wanted to; why couldn't the pope?

And by the way, an indulgence is an ecclesiastical dispensation to forgo penance for sins confessed and/or absolved of. What is sinful about perfume-making?

I know what an indulgence is, I way making a pun, also known as word-play.

and the pope can have any hobby he wants. but I couldn't imagine dalai lama or any other spiritual leader making such a public display of opulence. The papacy is not living in the 15th century anymore. the adverge person is not impressed by a spiritual leader with such secular, vain, and non-spiritual 'hobbies'

Theofane · Mar 16, 2012

So, what does His Holiness officially smell like?

Gloriana The Faerie Queen · Mar 16, 2012

Theofane said:
So, what does His Holiness officially smell like?

I'm not sure, I'm waiting for a papal encyclical on the topic to be released by the vatican

Theofane · Mar 16, 2012

Gloriana The Faerie Queen said:
I'm not sure, I'm waiting for a papal encyclical on the topic to be released by the vatican

Catholic incense?

Other than that if I've got nothing.

PaladinValer · Mar 16, 2012

Gloriana The Faerie Queen said:
I know what an indulgence is, I way making a pun, also known as word-play.

The idiom would be "I beg your indulgence" (I ask your forgiveness for your time, etc). It still doesn't work.

and the pope can have any hobby he wants. but I couldn't imagine dalai lama or any other spiritual leader making such a public display of opulence. The papacy is not living in the 15th century anymore. the adverge person is not impressed by a spiritual leader with such secular, vain, and non-spiritual 'hobbies'

How pietistic and Manichean.

Izdaari Eristikon · Mar 16, 2012

PaladinValer said:
I

Anyone is allowed to dabble in a hobby; why should ++Benny be somehow unable? I could, if I had the knowledge and equipment, create my own fragrance; is it wrong of me to do so? If not me, what is so wrong with the Pope doing so? What is so different between perfume and, say, chess? I could have a special chess set made especially for me if I wanted to; why couldn't the pope?

One difference between that and chess is that no serious chess player I know would even want a special chess set. Not for actual play at any rate. We get accustomed to tournament standard sets of the Staunton design, whether of wood or plastic, and anything else doesn't feel right to play with, though a fancy custom set would be nice on display as an art object.

But so far as the perfume, I don't mind either, though I think maybe he should release it for sale.

Albion · Mar 16, 2012

Izdaari said:
One difference between that and chess is that no serious chess player I know would even want a special chess set. Not for actual play at any rate. We get accustomed to tournament standard sets of the Staunton design, whether of wood or plastic, and anything else doesn't feel right to play with, though a fancy custom set would be nice on display as an art object.

Spoken like a real chess player!

PaladinValer · Mar 16, 2012

Izdaari said:
One difference between that and chess is that no serious chess player I know would even want a special chess set. Not for actual play at any rate. We get accustomed to tournament standard sets of the Staunton design, whether of wood or plastic, and anything else doesn't feel right to play with, though a fancy custom set would be nice on display as an art object.

My point is that the secular is by no means something to be despised. The entire idea that clergy are supposed to be completely outside secular matters is simply not Christian. The secular and the sacred are by no means polar opposites (the sacred and the profane are). This sort of idea is entirely Manichean and is utterly anti-Christian.

I used chess to illustrate something that isn't quite as "exotic" as perfume to make a point: anything can be personalized. Even buying a Star Wars-inspired chess set can be personal to a fan of that mythology. The idea that clergy should be "above" that is ridiculous; I know the Bishop of Alaska personally who flies planes for crying out loud, and he did so before he was consecrated and ordained bishop. You want extravagant, there you go. Is he somehow now a bad bishop?

Having secular persuits is what keeps clergy "grounded" in the real world. Yes, their vocation is spiritual, but to disregard all things secular is to assume a dualistic theology which is absolutely unhealthy (indeed, it can condemn us!).

But so far as the perfume, I don't mind either, though I think maybe he should release it for sale.

Maybe, but that's up to ++Benny. If he paid with his own funds, he is welcome to do with it as he sees fit, and given the probable fact that he gives away quite a bit each year, a little personal attention is not something we should wag our fingers at (not that you are [you aren't], of course).

Izdaari Eristikon · Mar 16, 2012

Albion said:
Spoken like a real chess player!

I'll never be a pro, but I'm a good amateur tournament player.

Izdaari Eristikon · Mar 16, 2012

PaladinValer said:
My point is that the secular is by no means something to be despised. The entire idea that clergy are supposed to be completely outside secular matters is simply not Christian. The secular and the sacred are by no means polar opposites (the sacred and the profane are). This sort of idea is entirely Manichean and is utterly anti-Christian.

I used chess to illustrate something that isn't quite as "exotic" as perfume to make a point: anything can be personalized. Even buying a Star Wars-inspired chess set can be personal to a fan of that mythology. The idea that clergy should be "above" that is ridiculous; I know the Bishop of Alaska personally who flies planes for crying out loud, and he did so before he was consecrated and ordained bishop. You want extravagant, there you go. Is he somehow now a bad bishop?

Having secular persuits is what keeps clergy "grounded" in the real world. Yes, their vocation is spiritual, but to disregard all things secular is to assume a dualistic theology which is absolutely unhealthy (indeed, it can condemn us!).

Maybe, but that's up to ++Benny. If he paid with his own funds, he is welcome to do with it as he sees fit, and given the probable fact that he gives away quite a bit each year, a little personal attention is not something we should wag our fingers at (not that you are [you aren't], of course).

Agreed on all points.

judechild · Mar 18, 2012

I suppose that I'll come out of my cave (if you'll indulge me a moment) to point out that the cologne is a gift that the maker wished to give to the Pope, as are his shoes from the Roman cobbler who makes them. Cologne is expected in many circles of European diplomacy, and the artist wanted to provide it for the Holy Father.

Gloriana The Faerie Queen · Mar 18, 2012

PaladinValer said:
The idiom would be "I beg your indulgence" (I ask your forgiveness for your time, etc). It still doesn't work.

How pietistic and Manichean.

Im just saying he should go and buy it from a store like a regular person. Im not saying he shouldn't use. but it seem like an extravagance to have his own custom made.

Borromeo · Mar 18, 2012

They're leaving out that it is the perfumers that go to people and get them to put their name with perfumes, the Pope didn't say "Hey, find me a perfumer so I can make my own signature scent."

PaladinValer · Mar 19, 2012

judechild said:
I suppose that I'll come out of my cave (if you'll indulge me a moment) to point out that the cologne is a gift that the maker wished to give to the Pope, as are his shoes from the Roman cobbler who makes them. Cologne is expected in many circles of European diplomacy, and the artist wanted to provide it for the Holy Father.

Interesting. Not that I disbelieve you, but I'm going to look into this as this facet of European sociology is interesting to me.

Gloriana The Faerie Queen said:
Im just saying he should go and buy it from a store like a regular person. Im not saying he shouldn't use. but it seem like an extravagance to have his own custom made.

And yes, if he's given it as a gift, is it not rude to refuse it?

Gloriana The Faerie Queen · Mar 19, 2012

PaladinValer said:
Interesting. Not that I disbelieve you, but I'm going to look into this as this facet of European sociology is interesting to me.

And yes, if he's given it as a gift, is it not rude to refuse it?

perhaps. but I think he has to be more mindful of how the rest of the world see it. and based on the comments at the bottom of the news story both catholic and anti-catholic alike seem to think it's not really kosher

pope has his own perfume

Newbie

Regular Member

Theofane

Guest

Reformed Catholic

Traditional Orthodox Anglican

Newbie

Theofane

Guest

Newbie

Theofane

Guest

Traditional Orthodox Anglican

Well-Known Member

Facilitator

Traditional Orthodox Anglican

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Catholic Socratic

Newbie

Borromeo

Guest

Traditional Orthodox Anglican

Newbie

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency