My own concern is, of course, the hermeneutic of continuity and I think we can discern this in papal transport. First look at this example from 1930, the Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460, reckoned to the first real popemobile. Custom-built for Pope Pius XI, it has a central throne in the rear:
Now have a look at the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL Laundaulet from 1966, just after the close of the second Vatican Council:
I think one can observe here a new expression of apostolic mobility without any essential break or rupture with the past.
6 comments:
Dear Fr. Tim
Regarding the evolution of the popemobile ... yes indeed, the popemobiles show clear evidence of transitional forms - although I suppose some would respond that all of them are also quite intelligently designed! At least we can all discern a hermeneutic of continuity.
Very best regards
Fr. Andrew Pinsent
I'm with Fr. Blake on this one - a definite 'Hermeneutic of Rupture' - but from a more longterm perspective...
I mean, what did St. Peter use...? A chariot? A 'coach and four'?
No, I suspect he went by Shanks' Mare!
And, of course, Our Lord used a donkey...:)
You will notice that the older popemobiles retained their black vestments - such a rarity nowadays with all that joyous, celebratory white.
Think I saw the current mode of transport last Thursday heading down from Castel Gandolfo: 2 police outriders leading a Black Volkswagen Phaeton (looks a bit like a Passat, but much posher inside!) and a Coach of Carabinieri immediately behind the car. I think thay may have been breaking the speed limit also!
I'm not at all sure I don't discern an element of discontinuity here. After all, the papal limousines, even after Vatican II, were (I think) always black. The modern popemobiles are always white.
Continuity with tradition ? I wonder.
I put up some pictures of the Extraordinary Form: http://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2008/09/earlier-and-later-popemobiles.html
I think I demonstrate clearly a rupture.
Post a Comment