Ring of the Fisherman

The Ring of the Fisherman or Pescatorio is an official part of the regalia worn by the pope, described by the Roman Catholic Church (of which he is the head) as the successor of Saint Peter, a fisherman by trade. The fisherman's ring is a signet used until 1842 to seal official documents signed by the pope.

A new ring is cast in gold for each pontiff; the ring features a bas-relief of Saint Peter fishing from a boat. Raised lettering around the relief image presents the pope's Latin name. During the rite of papal inauguration or papal coronation the camerlengo ceremonially slips the ring on the left fourth finger of the new pope. On Benedict XVI's occasion though, it was worn on the right finger, an action commented by Italian TV reporters as an act of "marrying" the church. Upon a papal death, the Ring of the Fisherman is ceremonially crushed in the presence of other cardinals by the camerlengo, using a silver hammer. The action is needed to prevent the sealing of backdated, forged documents during the interregnum (sede vacante) period.

A letter written by Pope Clement IV to his nephew Peter Grossi in 1265 includes the earliest known mention of the Ring of the Fisherman, used for sealing all private correspondence by pressing the ring into red sealing wax melted onto a folded piece of paper or envelope. Public documents, by contrast, were sealed by pressing the papal seal into lead melted on the document. Such documents were historically called papal bulls, named after the stamped bulla of lead. Use of the fisherman's ring changed during the fifteenth century when it was used to seal official documents called papal briefs. That practice ended in 1842, when the wax with its guard of silk and the impression of the fisherman's ring was replaced by a stamp which affixed the same device in red ink (Catholic Encyclopedia "Bulls").

Through the centuries, the fisherman's ring did not become known for its practical use but by its feudal symbolism. Borrowing from the traditions developed by medieval monarchs, followers showed respect to the reigning pope by kneeling at his feet and kissing the fisherman's ring. The tradition continues to this day.

Another fisherman's ring is commonly worn by Irish tradition and is known as the Claddagh ring.

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia: The Ring of the Fisherman
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Bulls and briefs

See also: Ring of the Fisherman, 1265, 1842, Apostolic Palace, Bas-relief, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Camerlengo, Catholic Church, Claddagh ring