Papal slippers: Difference between revisions

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The Papal slippers (Template:Lang-it) are a historical accoutrement worn by the Pope. The papal slippers were a form of episcopal sandals worn by bishops. However, unlike the (rarely seen) episcopal sandals, which change with the liturgical colour, the papal slippers were always red.^[1]

Usually elaborate, papal slippers were made by hand with red satin, red silk, and gold thread; they featured an embroidered cross garnished with rubies and the soles were made of leather. Until the first half of the 20th century, it was customary for pilgrims having an audience with the Pope to kneel and kiss one of his slippers.^[1] The red colour represents the blood of the martyrs through which, figuratively the Pope wades.

The pope traditionally wore the slippers inside the papal apartments, while red leather papal shoes were worn outdoors. Pope Paul VI discontinued the use of the papal slippers but continued to wear the red outdoor papal shoes, which were abandoned by Pope John Paul II in favour of cordovan brown leather walking shoes made in his native Poland.^[1]

Pope Benedict XVI restored the use of the red outdoor papal shoes, similar to those worn by Paul VI. However, it would seem that the papal slippers were not restored as photographs of Benedict showed him wearing red shoes inside the confines of the Vatican.^[1] The Pope was reported (perhaps erroneously) to have been wearing red slippers upon his arrival in Scotland on 16 September 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Pope Francis has since, once again, discontinued the use of the shoe. He wears simple black dress shoes.^{[citation needed]}. Famously he discarded the slippers at his election with the words "the carnival is over," causing considerable offence to those who undertood the symbolic meaning of the footwear.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Bolton, Andrew; Bohem, Barbara Drake; Gallo, Marzia Cataldi; Mann, C. Griffith; Morgan, David; Ravasi, Gianfranco Cardinal; Tracy, David (2018). Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-58839-645-7.

External links

Episcopal Sandals article from the Catholic Encyclopedia (1912)
Information and illustration in over 170 pictures of papal and clerical shoes

[Bolton-1] Bolton, Andrew; Bohem, Barbara Drake; Gallo, Marzia Cataldi; Mann, C. Griffith; Morgan, David; Ravasi, Gianfranco Cardinal; Tracy, David (2018). Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-58839-645-7.

[1]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 The '''Papal slippers''' ({{Lang-it|pantofole papali}}) are a historical accoutrement worn by the [[Pope]]. The papal slippers were a form of [[episcopal sandals]] worn by [[bishop]]s. However, unlike the (rarely seen) episcopal sandals, which change with the [[liturgical colour]], the papal slippers were always [[red]].<ref name=Bolton>{{cite book|author1=Bolton, Andrew |author2=Bohem, Barbara Drake |author3=Gallo, Marzia Cataldi |author4=Mann, C. Griffith |author5=Morgan, David |author6=Ravasi, Gianfranco Cardinal |author7=Tracy, David |title=Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=URBZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA24 |year=2018 |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art|isbn=978-1-58839-645-7 |page=24}}</ref>
-Usually elaborate, papal slippers were made by hand with red [[satin]], red [[silk]], and gold [[yarn|thread]]; they featured an embroidered [[cross]] garnished with [[ruby|rubies]] and the soles were made of [[leather]]. Until the first half of the 20th century, it was customary for pilgrims having an audience with the Pope to kneel and kiss one of his slippers.<ref name=Bolton/>
+Usually elaborate, papal slippers were made by hand with red [[satin]], red [[silk]], and gold [[yarn|thread]]; they featured an embroidered [[cross]] garnished with [[ruby|rubies]] and the soles were made of [[leather]]. Until the first half of the 20th century, it was customary for pilgrims having an audience with the Pope to kneel and kiss one of his slippers.<ref name=Bolton/> The red colour represents the blood of the martyrs through which, figuratively the Pope wades.
 The pope traditionally wore the slippers inside the [[papal apartments]], while red leather [[papal shoes]] were worn outdoors. [[Pope Paul VI]] discontinued the use of the papal slippers but continued to wear the red outdoor [[papal shoes]], which were abandoned by [[Pope John Paul II]] in favour of [[Cordovan (color)|cordovan]] brown leather walking shoes made in his native [[Poland]].<ref name=Bolton/>
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 [[Pope Benedict XVI]] restored the use of the red outdoor [[papal shoes]], similar to those worn by Paul VI. However, it would seem that the papal slippers were not restored as photographs of Benedict showed him wearing red shoes inside the confines of the Vatican.<ref name=Bolton/> The Pope was reported (perhaps erroneously) to have been wearing red slippers upon his arrival in Scotland on 16 September 2010.{{Cn|date=July 2021}}
-[[Pope Francis]] has since, once again, discontinued the use of the shoe. He wears simple black [[dress shoe]]s.{{Cn|date=July 2021}}
+[[Pope Francis]] has since, once again, discontinued the use of the shoe. He wears simple black [[dress shoe]]s.{{Cn|date=July 2021}}. Famously he discarded the slippers at his election with the words "the carnival is over," causing considerable offence to those who undertood the symbolic meaning of the footwear.
 ==See also==