New Pope 2013: Pope Francis’ Chosen Ring, Coat of Arms Confirm Down-to-Earth Style
To further imprint the down-to-earth style of his papal tenure, Pope Francis has chosen to rehash an earlier design as his Fisherman's Ring, one that is made of silver and not of gold.
One of the papal symbols that will mark the newly proclaimed pontiff of the Roman Catholic church, his Fisherman's Ring was designed by Enrico Manfrini, an Italian sculptor for Paul VI. Mr Manfrini died in 2004.
"The ring is designed by Manfrini, who created several religious works and it was presented to the pope by the master of ceremonies who had received the model from one of Paul VI's secretaries," Rev Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said.
"I don't know if the ring was used by Paul VI. The design stems from that period but it is not physically the same ring. The original ring was melted down but this a ring based on the same design," he added.
Chosen no less than by Pope Francis himself, the design shows a bearded St Peter the Apostle, the first ever Catholic pope, with a halo and holding a pair of keys. St Peter is regarded in the Catholic faith as the gate keeper of heaven.
Each new pope gets to pick the design and manufacture of his own ring. This is immediately destroyed at the end of his papacy, whether it be by natural causes such as death due to old age or sickness or in the case of Benedict XVI, personal abdication.
Although this is not the first time that a pope has chosen to wear a ring made of silver, observers still found it odd that a new pontiff would just use a rehashed design.
"It is quite unusual, however, to use a ring which already exists or has been made based on a design which already exists," Claudio Franchi, a Roman goldsmith, told AFP. Mr Franchi was the one who crafted the elaborate ring worn by Benedict XVI, then new pope's predecessor.
It is not clear Lombardi if Paul VI ever got to use the ring.
As for the design of his coat of arms, Pope Francis chose to maintain the one that he had as archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Showing 3 symbols on a blue background, it has a sun at the top with the letters IHS in the middle and under it a 5-point star on the left and a lily on the right, representing the Virgin Mary and St Joseph, earthly parents to Jesus Christ. The IHS is the logo of the Jesuit order.
Beneath the crest is a Latin motto that says "miserando atque eligendo." It refers to a biblical passage showing Jesus Christ's "mercy" in choosing Matthew, a tax collector, to be one of his disciples.
"The motto recalls Pope Francis's personal vocation and he wanted to keep it," Mr Lombardi said.
The inspiration for the motto, the Vatican said, is reminiscent of the calling Jorge Bergoglio heard at the age of 17, when "he experienced the presence of the love of God in a very special way," thus deciding to join the Jesuit order.
Read more:
New Pope 2012: Grateful for the Gift He Received, Pope Francis Kisses on Cheek Argentinean President Kirchner
New Pope 2013: Vatican Receptionist Mistakes Call from Pope Francis as a Prank Call
New Pope 2013: Heads to Surely Roll at Vatican as Pope Francis Implores Faithful in Twitter Account to Continuously Pray for Him
Pope Francis Inaugural: World Leaders, Catholics to Flock to March 19 Inaugural
New Pope 2013: Roman Vendors Do Brisk Business of New Pope Francis Souvenirs (PHOTOS)
New Pope 2013: On March 19 Installation, Will Pope Francis Publicly Swear to Maintain His Post 'Till Death Do Us Part?'