zlacker

The pope photo is not him pointing upward, he's doing the blessing. Imagine someone standing right in front of him and he's pointing two fingers at their head, then move to torso, then left shoulder, then right shoulder. Depending on the speed of the camera at that time, he might pose like that for a second just to take the photograph as if he's in the middle of the blessing someone. I've never seen priest doing it with one or three or four fingers.

Tldr: they're not pointing upwards, they're pointing to someone's head (the viewer of the painting/photography most likely)

I bet when they used one finger people were asking "me?" and then looked behind them to see if there is someone else. If priest uses two fingers it's obvious he's not pointing at you or someone behind you. It also helps if he points it little bit higher not just right between your eyes like a gun.

>>dvh+(OP)
It's literally the hand sign of dual nature of Christ. Blessing or posing.

The Catholic Church has had quite a few years to solidify and formalize their rituals. Nothing a priest does during mass is accidental or coincidental. They go to school for these things.

>>Loughl+rp
>The Catholic Church has had quite a few years to solidify and formalize their rituals.

so they retconned it?