Shillong, April 23: Among the many symbols of papal authority, few are as steeped in history and ritual as the ‘Ring of the Fisherman’ a ring that is worn by every pope and then destroyed upon his death.
Destruction upon the death of a pope, the camerlengo ceremonially destroys the ring (as well as the bulla) using a hammer in the presence of the College of Cardinals. This ritual originated as a means to prevent the issuance of forged documents during the sede vacante.
Known in Latin as Anulus Piscatoris, the Fisherman’s Ring features an image of Saint Peter, the first pope and a fisherman by trade. It serves as a powerful emblem of the pope’s role as the successor of Saint Peter and a “fisher of men.” For centuries, it was also used as a signet to seal official documents, a practice that ended in 1842.
Every new pope receives a custom-made ring bearing his name, presented during the papal inauguration by the Camerlengo. But this symbolic piece of jewelry is not meant to last beyond his lifetime. Upon the pope’s death, the ring is ceremonially destroyed with a silver hammer in front of the College of Cardinals. This tradition, dating back to the Middle Ages, was originally meant to prevent forged documents during the period between two papacies, known as sede vacante.
While past rings have been ornate and cast in gold, Pope Francis broke from tradition. Known for his modesty, he chose a simple gold-plated silver ring instead of commissioning a new one. The ring had previously belonged to Archbishop Pasquale Macchi, the private secretary of Pope Paul VI. Vatican officials refer to it as the “in-possession ring.”
Dating back to at least the 13th century, the Fisherman’s Ring remains one of the most enduring symbols of the papacy. Following the death of Pope Francis, the Camerlengo who was appointed by the late pontiff will oversee the ritual destruction of the ring ahead of the funeral on Saturday morning.
Read: Students discover indigenous wisdom by trading classrooms for 80 days of rural life in Garo Hills
WATCH:
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
