The fisherman’s ring is the ring used by the highest representative of the Catholic Church on Earth. Each new Pope receives a garment that identifies him and each other: the beautiful jewel with his name engraved in Latin.
The fisherman’s ring, also known as a piscatorio, is a jewel made of solid gold and was used for the first time in the 13th century when it was useful to sign important documents or orders made by the bishop of Rome, pressing the seal on the sealing wax to ensure correspondence. According to historical records, the first mention of the ring was made by Pope Clement IV in 1269, through a letter he wrote to his nephew.
The fisherman’s ring symbolizes the power of the pontiff and its design is inspired by scenes from the Bible. In the same way, his name is also loaded with great meaning, since it is due to the office of Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and also the first Pope of the Catholic Church. In fact, the figure drawn on the seal of the ring represents Saint Peter fishing from his boat.
Each new pope receives the jewel in a pontificate or papal enthronement ceremony, in which the Dean of the College of Cardinals is responsible for coloring it on his finger. From now on, the new pontiff must wear it in all his public and private appearances, except on Good Friday and at the funeral Mass for a cardinal. When the Pope dies or resigns, the Vatican scratches the ring’s seal to prevent falsifications and later, in a solemn ceremony, the piece is destroyed with a hammer; the remains of the previous one are used for the design of the new ring.
Since the fisherman’s ring was first used, some traditions regarding its use have been changing. For Pope Benedict XVI, the fisherman’s ring was more a symbol than an object to seal documentsafter his resignation—an unprecedented event in the Catholic Church—the ring was annulled with an “X” and not destroyed as tradition dictated.
Later, it was precisely the successor of Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, who made one of the most significant changes related to the ring, when he asked for «a simple, austere, not ostentatious and easy to wear piece» to use in his public appearances, instead of the one that was given to him in the rite of inauguration of the pontificate.
Since the beginning of Francisco’s papacy, it has been possible to see the result of his request in relation to the fisherman’s ring; It is a silver jewel, with a hexagonal cross design. On the back of the ring is engraved the name of the pontiff in Latin: «Franciscus Episcopus Romae».
The fisherman’s ring meant for many years a symbol of power, but Francisco, recognized for its simplicity, has sown the first seed so that this and all the symbols related to the church symbolize a more humane work closer to the parishioners.