Why Pope Francis’ Fisherman’s Ring Will Be Destroyed

Following Pope Francis’ death, the Vatican will destroy his iconic Fisherman’s Ring as part of a centuries-old tradition to prevent forged papal documents, ensuring no false claims to papacy.

Pope Francis’ signet ring, known as the Fisherman’s Ring, has been an important symbol of papal authority for centuries. This ring, named after St. Peter, who was a fisherman and the first pope, has traditionally been worn by popes during official ceremonies. It also served as a seal for papal documents, ensuring their authenticity. However, upon a pope’s death, the ring would be destroyed to prevent any misuse, and this ritual has been followed for centuries.

Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, adhered to this tradition. The Fisherman’s Ring will be defaced or destroyed within the walls of the Vatican as part of the ritual. This practice has its roots in ensuring that no one could impersonate the pope and use the ring to forge official documents after his death. The procedure of destroying the ring dates back to 1521 and continued until 2013, although the objects stopped being used as functional seals after the mid-19th century.

Christopher Lamb, a Vatican correspondent, explained that the practice was akin to removing login details from a social media account to prevent impersonation. After the pope’s passing, the Camerlengo, a senior cardinal, would traditionally destroy the ring and a pendant called the bulla in the presence of the College of Cardinals. This practice continued long after the ring was no longer used for sealing documents.

In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI, who became the first pope in six centuries to resign, changed the tradition. Instead of destroying the ring, a deep cross was carved into its surface. Some felt this was necessary as impersonation was seen as less likely. However, the tradition has returned with Pope Francis, and his ring will likely be defaced in the same manner before the papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected.

Pope Francis’ relationship with the Fisherman’s Ring was slightly different from his predecessors. While some popes wore the ring daily, Pope Francis wore it mostly during official ceremonies. For daily use, he preferred a simpler silver ring that dated back to his time as a cardinal. He also appeared uncomfortable with people kissing his ring, as seen in 2019 when he pulled his hand away from followers attempting to kiss it. The Vatican later clarified that this was due to health concerns, not a rejection of the tradition.

Additionally, the Fisherman’s Ring that Pope Francis wore was not custom-made for him, as was the case with many of his predecessors. Instead, he chose to use a “recycled” ring that once belonged to Archbishop Pasquale Macchi, the secretary to Pope Paul VI. This ring, made from gold-plated silver, was a modest choice, reflecting Pope Francis’ preference for simplicity. The future of the ring, like many aspects of the papal process, will be determined after the conclave.
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