Pope Francis’ gold signet ring, which he wore on his right hand, is set to be destroyed when he passed away at the age of 88.
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday
Pope Francis, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died at 7:35 am local time on April 21, Easter Monday, in his humble quarters at the Vatican.
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He had already made waves when he became pope in 2013 by choosing to live simply, skipping the grand papal apartments most popes have stayed in.
It was later confirmed that his death was due to a stroke that led to a coma and eventually heart failure. He was 88.
The Fisherman’s Ring carries deep symbolism
The iconic ring Pope Francis wore will be destroyed with a special hammer after his passing.
It’s kind of shocking since the ring is estimated to be worth around $520,000, but its true value is more about what it represents for the Catholic Church rather than its material worth.
It’s a symbol of the papacy and Catholicism as a whole.
A special hammer will be used to destroy the ring
The Fisherman’s Ring is a gift given to each pope when they are elected and taken away after their death.
In fact, the ring is so closely tied to the pope’s role that it’s often visible in photos of the pope lying in state.
There’s a tradition in the Catholic Church where the ring and the bulla are destroyed by the camerlengo cardinal, and in this case, it’ll be Kevin Farrell who does it.
The ring is destroyed to prevent misuse
Why destroy it, though? Well, the reason is to make sure the ring isn’t misused.
It was originally made to be a seal for the pope’s private letters, but these days it’s just a ceremonial symbol of the papacy.
Destruction of the ring happens after the pope’s death
The ring is destroyed after the pope’s death is officially confirmed, and it’s done in front of the College of Cardinals.
This usually happens before the papal conclave is called to elect the new pope.
A new pope is chosen through the papal conclave
The election of a new pope typically takes between 15 to 20 days after the previous pope’s death.
The conclave is an important process that brings the College of Cardinals together to choose the next pope.
Cardinal Farrell announces the death of Pope Francis
Camerlengo Cardinal Farrell announced the death of Pope Francis with a heavy heart.
He said: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. “At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.”
