Caribbean bishop says his people want bear hug, not handshake at Mass

Published: 2005-10-11

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Several members of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist agreed that the sign of peace just before Communion is disruptive, but none of them thought it should be eliminated. In fact, Bishop Gabriel Malzaire of Roseau on the West Indies island of Dominica said a quick handshake is not enough for his people. "Many of the faithful resist the short handshake for the sign of peace. They want a more feeling expression of fraternity, such as a bear hug or an embrace," the bishop told the synod Oct. 10. The Vatican provided summaries of the bishops' talks at the synod, as well as briefings of the full contents of the speeches. Colombian Cardinal Pedro Rubiano Saenz of Bogota, who also spoke Oct. 10, echoed a call made by several bishops at the synod, asking the Vatican to consider moving the sign of peace to the beginning of the offertory from its current position just before the distribution of Communion.

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