French artist Picar depicted a Pope sitting on the altar in St. Peter’s cathedral in 1723. This is not an anti-Catholic cartoon. The tradition of putting a newly elected Pope on the altar appeared in XII c. and was based on the idea that Pope is a vicar of Christ. Altar is not only a table for a sacrifice, altar is also a throne. Modern Roman Catholics would be shocked to know about such a tradition. But it only reminds that any material objects, gestures, images are ethically or spiritually neutral.
Can we say that to be human means to make symbols and signs from this neutral material? No. To be human means to understand that another person can use the same material to express a very different idea. You’ve decided that sitting on the altar is a blasphemy. Great! But remember that sitting on the altar can be an act of piety as well.
