Pakistan, Aug. 22 -- A Vatican cardinal has sparked online debate after kissing the exposed skull of Saint Agatha during a ceremony in Sicily. Cardinal Pietro Parolin performed the gesture on August 17. He attended a ceremony in Catania to mark the 900th anniversary of the return of Saint Agatha's relics. The event brought renewed attention to an ancient Catholic tradition. Social media users shared different reactions to the unusual scene.

During the ceremony, officials displayed Saint Agatha's skull before placing it inside a decorated reliquary. Parolin bowed before the relic and then kissed the skull. Videos of the moment quickly circulated online. Some viewers questioned the practice because they were unfamiliar with Catholic tradit...