Why do Catholics kiss the ring of the Pope?

It's nasty, but better than kissing his butt or his Dagon, the fish god fishhead hat.

You are right in citing [Acts 10:25-26] because Cornelius was about to worship Peter. Peter said, "Stand up; I too am just a man." Peter was actually telling Cornelius that we should worship only the God who created all things visible and invisible written in the Holy Scriptures/Bible [Colossians 1:16]. Not even the angels [Revelation 22:8-9] should be worshiped but only the Godhead written in the Holy Scriptures/Bible. If anyone should worship anything by kneeling down, kissing, wiping with any cloth, like handkerchief, any material like idols or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth as symbol of godliness is idolatry and hates God [Deuteronomy 5:7-9] also read the first epistle of apostle Peter [1 Peter 4:3] that idolatry is abomination to the God written in the Holy Scriptures/Bible].

In many European cultures, a kiss on the hand or the cheek is a standard form of greeting. It's also a sign of respect.

A ring is also a symbol of authority. In the parable of the prodigal son, the first thing that the father does is order the servants to place a ring on his son's hand. It represented membership in the family and the authority to participate in family matters again.

So kissing the Pope's ring is a sign of respect for the office that he holds. He is a world leader, so kissing his ring is no different than bowing to the Queen of England or the Emperor of Japan.

I *do* have one question for you, though. How did you gain access to every bathroom in the Vatican to be able to say for sure that the Pope doesn't wash his hands?

The reason I ask is because you're lying if you state something as a fact without proof. Doesn't your Bible say anything about what God thinks of lies and liars?

catholics like kissing his ring. but get a bit concerned if he has just done a no.2 or recently passed wind

To you, it's dirty. So don't do it.

To me, it's a sign of reverence and love. So I would do it.

Here's some more ammo for your little pop gun: There's a tradition in the Catholic Church that whoever kisses the hands of a new priest (within a year after his ordination/anointing) gets special blessings. So, for me, it doesn't have to be the Holy Father. Just someone in the direct priestly lineage of Jesus. And there are no protestants in that group, so you're safe.

They place him on a pedestal and I'm not sure that isn't idol worship, although I feel strongly that it is.

Yes, Peter (whom they claim was the first pope) they did not follow even his example of humility.

The Catholics need to speak to a few Jehovah's witnesses and get their questions answered; they have many things to learn (but I say this with no ill will toward them, just my experience in talking with them in the ministry).

It's a cultural tradition showing a sign of respect for the office of the Papacy - an office established by Jesus Christ (Matt 16:18). It's no more idol worship than when I kiss a picture of my kids when I'm away traveling. In Eastern culture bowing is done as a sign of respect. Bowing doesn't mean worshipping. In the west we have other ways of showing respect for an office, position or person. Does not make it worship.

Just because you don't understand a specific cultural practice doesn't make the cultural practice wrong.

What can you say about people that believe you can say a few Latin words over a cracker, and it magical turns into the body of a dead person. Suddenly kissing a ring doesn't seem so crazy

Yes. why is that! Could it be that they have been taught that he is the same as Christ Jesus (or standing for him while on earth)? Sad, but that is what I heard, and it is totally against all the scriptures!

In fact, Jesus never considered himself Almighty or equal to the Father. Most people just don't get that though you can look it up in any Translation.

Philippians 2:5, 6

New International Version (NIV)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

Philippians 2:5, 6

Lexham English Bible (LEB)

5 Think this in[a] yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped,

Philippians 2:5, 6

Expanded Bible (EXB)

5 In your lives you must ·think and act like [have the same attitude as] Christ Jesus. [C What follows may be from an early Christian hymn.]

6 ·Christ himself was like God in everything [L Who, being in the form of God].

But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be ·used for his own benefit [or grasped; seized; held on to].

Philippians 2:5, 6

New World Translation (NWT)

5 Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God.

They've been fooled into thinking that Popes and the office they hold are appointed by Christ.

They can't see this as idolatry due to being blinded by the god of this world.

in response to non-believers are dead inside

I don't disrespect the authority Christ had given to Peter and the Apostles but I also don't think they would be having their rings kissed.

and the pope doesn't have the same authority as an apostle.