Just to keep up to date: at the moment, it is allowed.

Pope Francis was photographed allowing nuns and priests to kiss his papal ring during his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday.

But earlier in the week - on Monday - a video showed him consistently pulling his hand away as he was greeted by the faithful.

Some of Francis's conservative critics feel he is abandoning church doctrine and tradition for jerking his hand away.

They see his preference for not being kissed as evidence of him shunning age-old traditions.

LifeSiteNews called the episode "disturbing" in the headline of an article that included a long history of the rings popes wear and their significance.

Rorate Caeli, a website read by Catholic traditionalists, tweeted: "Francis, If you don't want to be the Vicar of Christ, then get out of there!"

But many noted that a short clip that went online didn't give the full picture.

They say Francis only began pulling his hand away after having greeted a large number of people.

Those coming to his defense noted that he still had to greet sick people and lead a prayer.

The papal biographer Austen Ivereigh countered by tweeting: "He's making sure that they engage with him, not treat him like a sacred relic. He's the Vicar of Christ, not a Roman emperor."

Source

• The Guardian
• America Magazine
• Image: Catholic Universe

"Objects strictly tied to the ministry of St. Peter must be destroyed," Lombardi said.

The golden ring is known as the "Fisherman's Ring" because it depicts Peter fishing.

Lombardi also said a new title may have to be coined to refer to Pope Benedict XVI once he officially steps down.

"Perhaps Bishop Emeritus of Rome," he said.

"It will be interesting to see how we address him, how he will be called," said Lombardi. "It will be difficult to call him cardinal".

While having some duties, Benedict's brother told the BBC he will not interfere in the affairs of his successor.

"Where he's needed he will make himself available, but he will not want to want to intervene in the affairs of his successor," Georg Ratzinger said.

Pope Benedict will stay at the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo when he leaves office, the Vatican said, before moving into a renovated monastery used by cloistered nuns for "a period of prayer and reflection".

Sources:

• UPI.com
• BBC