Ring of the Fisherman

The Fisherman's Ring (Latin annulus Piscatoris ) is since the 14th century the official ring of the Popes. On the ring plate, the Apostle Peter is shown next to the name of the pope, the standing a fishing net feeding in a boat. This refers to Peter and his brother Andrew as "fishers of men " ( Mk 1.17 EU).

The ring was used until 1843 as a seal ring for sealing papal letter. He will be presented to the Pope a few days after the election in the conclave as part of a solemn celebration for the inauguration ( Inauguration ) together with the pallium and after his death shattered before the eyes of those present from the Camerlengo at the first plenary meeting of the Cardinals with a silver hammer. Theoretically, the ring is to be broken up into as many parts as it is the number of cardinals. This symbolizes the transition of the papal power to the College of Cardinals during the period of vacancy. The stone - if any - can be incorporated after the election of a successor in the Fisherman's Ring of the new Pope; Pope Benedict XVI. wore a ring without stone. After the resignation of Pope Benedict to the February 28, 2013 his ring was devalued by the ring-plate engraving zertrennende to prevent abuse, to the complete destruction of the ring has been omitted.

Benedict's successor Francis chose no fisherman's ring made ​​of gold, but a gold-plated silver ring. The fact that a Pope chooses a ring made ​​of silver, is considered rare, but not as an individual case. As unusual and probably unique, however the fact is considered that Francis chose for a ring that was not designed specifically for his inauguration, but customized on the basis of an existing ring.

The fisherman's ring in the image is one of the insignia of the Pope and one of the pontifical in the Roman Catholic Church. Bishops wear a bishop's ring. Traditionally, believers kneel down as a sign of respect and reverence for the office of the Pope as a direct successor of St. Peter and kiss the ring.