Black shoes in a casket instead of papal tradition
The oak coffin with the body of Pope Francis was introduced to St. Piotr on Wednesday morning. Earlier she stood in the chapel of the House of St. Marty. It was there that the Holy Father could say goodbye to cardinals, colleagues and their families. Unlike the faithful in the Basilica of St. Peter, who pass in front of the casket, not having time to stop, they could stay with the Pope, pray for him and afford a moment of reflection, but also look closely for the last time the Holy Father.
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The pope remained modest to the end
Pope Francis was dressed in festive red liturgical robes embroidered with gold. The died popes were also hidden in red shoes, characteristic of the head of the church. This tradition is associated with the fact that the red skin was rare, and thus very expensive and only the richest could afford it. Pope Francis, however, rejected this tradition. He walked in ordinary black shoes because he valued modesty. He emphasized that he walked in such shoes earlier and is sufficient for him, and in addition comfortable. And because he was a firm man, probably no one could persuade him to change his decision.
Pope Francis was also not put on red shoes, as was the case in the past with the burials of the Holy Fathers.
– Pope Francis remained modest – told us the Polish Ambassador in the Vatican Adam Kwiatkowski, who had the opportunity to say goodbye to Pope Francis still in the chapel of the House of St. Marty.
Probably with his previous wish, the Holy Father was laid in the casket in his ordinary, black shoes.
Even in the casket, the Holy Father was buried in his worn shoes
The ambassador’s attention was drawn to one thing. It can be seen that the shoes in which Francis was folded in the casket are not new, but those in which the pope had to pass many kilometers earlier. This detail contrasts with the pope’s festive clothing, but that’s what Francis was. However, such details could only be seen by those who were given to the casket very close. From a distance, these things are unbelievable and certainly irrelevant to the pope.
– It drew my special attention. The Holy Father was buried in the shoes he walked in, quite tightly worn. This modesty remained its symbol to the end – adds the ambassador.
And what was remembered by the ambassador Adam Kwiatkowski is also the firmness of the Pope. – If the Holy Father decided something, he was consistent and firm, and no one would be able to dissuade him from the decision – he told us during the conversation in the Vatican. It was probably also the case with shoes. Pope Francis gave clear guidelines regarding his funeral, so probably the issue of the Holy Father’s clothing was thoroughly planned. And besides, Pope Francis never gave himself red papal shoes, so seeing his ordinary, black shoes in the casket should not surprise.
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Darek Delmanowicz/PAP, Vatican Media/Mario Tomassetti/Reuters
The Polish Ambassador in the Vatican noticed that the Pope was buried in his descended shoes.
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Vatican Media/Mario Tomassetti/Handout/Reuters
Pope Francis broke tradition. He was buried in his ordinary black shoes in his casket.
