Pope Benedict XVI’s red shoes and other traditional wardrobe choices were in line with his vision of what it meant to lead the Catholic church.
. A few days before the holiday, at a special outdoor edition of his weekly “general audience” appearance,
Benedict wore a traditional papal winter head-covering, historically made of red velvet with a white ermine trim. Which looks — uncannily, adorably — like a Santa Claus hat. The style had not been worn by a pope since John XXIII, who died in 1963. Many have taken Benedict’s returning-to-traditions clothing choices as evidence of his staid, returning-to-traditions approach to Catholic doctrine. Palmo sees it slightly differently.Benedict was much more introverted and scholarly than his charismatic predecessor, Palmo notes, and once called his vast book collection his “old friends.
Upon his resignation, Benedict retired his red shoes in favor of brown leather loafers made in León, Mexico. How a pope emeritus should dress, of course, was a question without an established answer; as Palmo puts it, “the whole concept of the Pope Emeritus was invented on the fly.” But Benedict’s eventual uniform was clearly aimed at creating distance from the new pope. He also ditched the mozzetta as well as the pope’s traditional sash.
Traditionally, popes have been buried in their ceremonial red shoes. Will the once-in-a-millennium pope emeritus be buried in them, too? Palmo speculates so. “The shoes will, in all likelihood, be there.”
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Former Pope Benedict XVI, first pope in centuries to resign, dies at age 95The German-born pontiff never wanted to lead the Catholic Church, and he may be best remembered for the way he departed the role.
Read more »
Pope Benedict XVI dies at 95; was first pope to resign in 600 yearsPope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the shy German theologian who tried to reawaken Christianity in a secularized Europe but will forever be remembered as the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job, died Saturday.
Read more »
Former Pope Benedict XVI dies age 95; was first pope to resignBenedict stunned the Catholic faithful and religious experts in 2013 when he stepped down from his position as Pope, citing his 'advanced age.'
Read more »
Former Pope Benedict passes awayPope Emeritus Benedict XVI was the first pope in about 600 years to resign.
Read more »
Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope to resign in 600 years, dies at 95Pope Benedict XVI, the shy German theologian who tried to reawaken Christianity in a secularized Europe but will forever be remembered as the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job, died Saturday. He was 95.
Read more »