An article in Sunday's New York Times picks up on the buzz as to the new pope's fashion sense.

The Gucci sunglasses, the lavish ceremonial dress-the article touches on the themes ubiquitous in all such news stories.  But as the Times' story indicates but does little to explain, there's much more at work here than Pope Benedict's fashion sense or questionable materialism, and it has to do with the messages sent by these new clothes.

One is patently political.  Prada shoes, sunglasses by Gucci & Serengeti, the red Gammarelli "santa hat"--by linking himself so openly with Italian designers,  Ratzinger   Benedict is diverting attention from his German roots and making a subtle play for support from the Italian populace, press and Vatican hierarchy.

The other reason for the shift is theological.  According to Roman Catholic theology and canon law, the Pope is "vicarius christi"--that is, he stands in for  Christ on earth.  Believed to be Christ's designated representative, the pope exercises all of Christ's power and fulfills all of Christ's functions on His behalf. 

On the one hand, it seems that Benedict believes that the Pope, as the earthly manifestation or agent of Christ, should get honored with the best of the everything.  But it's also apparent that the Pope's new groove is meant to reinforce the image of the Pope as Christ on earth.  Consider the following now worn by the pope:

• a wool stole representing the sheep that Christ the shepherd carries on his shoulders
• an extra-tall gold miter:  the size emphasizes the pope's supremacy, and the color--gold--is a traditional color of the divine
• red shoes, an ancient symbol of imperial power
• and of course, the elaborate gold cross encrusted with emeralds--emerald being the color of the rainbow surrounding God's throne as well as a medieval symbol of healing.

All of which goes to show, I guess, that if someone were to ask the pope, "Who do you think you are?  Jesus Christ?", he just might answer yes!

EXTRA:  For more on the Pope's new clothes, check out the extensive set of notes provided to the Times by Vatican blogger Rocco Palmo.  Even if his blog didn't provide tantalizing insider info on the Vatican & papal fashion, it would have won a place on my blogroll simply for its reference to the pope's "Bling Box."