Papal regalia and insignia authority. Modern popes bear the Papal ferula, a staff topped by a crucifix, rather than a crozier, a bent pastoral staff styled after a shepherd's crook. The use of the papal ferula is an ancient custom, established before the thirteenth century, though some popes since that time, notably Pope Leo XIII, have used a crozier-like staff. The use of other items of papal regalia has been discontinued, though they have not been abolished. The "Sedia gestatoria", a portable throne or armchair carried by twelve footmen ("palafrenieri") in red uniforms was accompanied by two attendants bearing the "flabella", large ceremonial fans
Religion in The X-Files cast organized religion in a more negative light, believing that many religious acts were caused by insanity. The first overt occurrence of religion occurred in the fourth episode of the first season, "Conduit". At the end of the episode, Mulder sits in a church, crying as he looks at a picture of his sister. Howard Gordon, who wrote the episode, stated that the imagery did not mean to imply Christianity, but rather a symbol of "a sanctuary, a place for him to reestablish his helplessness and the missing of his sister". However, in "Beyond the Sea", the notion of religion