Would JFK adhere to traditional practice, whereby Catholics kneel, grasp the pope’s right hand, and kiss the papal ring, which is the physical symbol of the Petrine office?
In the interview with America, Bishop Francis Quinn said, “I personally think the Spirit is calling [women] to be deacons and priests, but the Spirit hasn’t done it clearly enough to convince the teaching church.”
With all of the issues a modern pope must deal with, it seemed that the matter of how to address a president’s wife was a trivial concern, but it wasn’t.
When Pope John would finally get to meet with President Eisenhower, there would be no doubt that he could regale the former general of the “exploits” of the former army chaplain.