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Tony Gentile / Reuters, file
Shoemaker Antonio Arellano, whose customers include Pope Benedict XVI, in his shop in downtown Rome.
Since Pope Benedict announced he was to become the first pontiff in six centuries to abdicate, there has been speculation about what clothes he will wear and even what his name will be.
On Tuesday, the Vatican announced Benedict would continue to be called “Your Holiness Benedict XVI” and become the “pope emeritus.”
Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi told a daily news briefing that the pope would wear a “white cassock,” Reuters and The Associated Press reported.
However, his ring of office as pope will be destroyed – as is traditional – and he will stop wearing his trademark red shoes.
The Associated Press explained:
Benedict has taken a liking to a pair of hand-crafted brown loafers made for him by artisans in Leon, Mexico, and presented to him during his 2012 visit. He will wear them in retirement.
Lombardi told reporters that Benedict, previously Joseph Ratzinger, had made the decisions himself.
Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters
Pope Benedict XVI leads his last Sunday Angelus prayer before he steps down in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican on Feb. 24.
The Vatican press office refused to comment or elaborate on the briefing, but said more details might be posted on its website later.
Benedict stunned the world when he announced on Feb. 11 that he was going to quit, saying the papacy required “strength of mind and body,” and that his had deteriorated in recent months.
His abdication will come into effect on Thursday.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related:
Pope Benedict XVI, citing deteriorating strength, will step aside Feb. 28
Pope's hometown in disbelief over resignation
'Thank you for your affection': Pope's last blessing from window draws crowd
Leave a Comment:
Makes sense. Many corporations bestow the title of Chairman Emeritus on outgoing chairmen who remain on the Board of Directors. Many universities bestow a President Emeritus title on outgoing presidents. Then you never hear from them again, which is what I hope happens in this case.
Countries at war, people injured, starving, out of work, losing their home but what is the RC Church worried about...
The color of the robe and shoes for a coward and a quitter.
Not just out of touch but off the planet.
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false and by the rulers as useful." - Unknown
Starving children around the world and the news is the color of an old mans shoes?
Something is so wrong with that... Did Jesus make such an issue about the clothes he wore? I think not...
Who cares what color shoes someone wears? Why is this treated as a big deal? I read it because I was thinking there must be more to it then shoes, but nope. Wow...what color do leaders of other churches wear? Do we know? Does it matter at all?
As opposed to the incredible "over-coverage" of Blade runner's murder of his girlfriend, Terry-Ca? I find this at least much more pleasant and interesting than the media barrage concerning this murder. Something to fill little spaces in the paper, not a headline.
As for the starving children Tired-of-it, would you hazard a guess how much Catholic charities spend feeding the hungry, let alone all the other organized religions of the World.....? Yea, thought so. Being crabby just to be crabby isn't cutting it.
Yes, for someone who is supposed to be the earth bound emulation of Jesus, for example, not marrying, among other things, the pope has been elevated above his founding predecessor.
Jesus may have been referred to as "rabbi", or teacher, but not as "His Holiness", a title held only for the sin free, but of which the sinful popes have taken for themselves.
Artisan shoes for the pope while the faithful starve? Jesus gave away his material possessions and would be appalled.
Devil wears (Red) Prada now onwards ...
1. Popes were first called "your Holiness" in the context of the European society in which they lived. All high ranking officials had titles, like men called the "Holy Roman Emperor". "Holiness" is an aspiration. No pope claims to be "holy".
2. Which "faithful" are starving? Produce your data source. The Church raises millions for various relief efforts.
3. Where does it say that Jesus gave away His possessions? Cite your source. Jesus did tell a PARTICULAR RICH MAN to sell all he had and give to the poor, but He didn't add, "as I have done", nor did He tell others to do so. Material goods can be used to good ends.
Gotta love the comments here, many left by people who wouldn't drop a dime in a Salvation Army kettle as they walk to the store to buy the latest e-gadget.
Tires-of-it and Terry-Ca,
I'm surprised to see you posting on here, I thought that you'd be too busy helping all of the "starving children".
Catholics may be interested in clothing and other details. This is a big event in the Roman Catholic Church. Not every story has to be politically correct or socially relevant.
Well this report leaves many wondering... Where's the hard questions? I mean, enquiring minds want to know!
What type of underwear, boxer or briefs?
Is he going to wear a T-shirt?
Will he use the tanning booth now that the Vatican Jet won't be whisking him away to a tropical paradise anymore?
Must be a REALLY slow day if the color of an old mans shoes is world-wide news.
It's a sad day for journalism indeed!
Oh no, not his red shoes. Bunch of witch doctors.
Please forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I don't see "Your Aspiring Holiness" in his title and this is not ancient Europe. If it were, Inquisitions, torture, murder by the popes and selling prayers would still be the norm, although today's soup d'jour is dominated by greed and sexual abuse.
It's unnecessary to cite a source when 89% of Mexico's population is catholic and so many face getting caught or even worse, death, just to cross the border into the U.S. in order to feed their families. They're not taking such a risk just to be able to attend a Dodger game.
The church's earthbound rule of forbidding contraception also adds to the strain. No where in the religious writings does it say conception cannot be prevented, but the church imposes that rule in order to keep their numbers, and coffers, growing.
"Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'"
And for your educational pleasure, here are a few more Jesus quotes telling how he felt about wealth:
“What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul.”
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both
God and Money."
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God.'"
How has the vatican's vast wealth of paintings, real estate and billions in hard cash sitting in their bank been used to good ends? Maybe they've sold off a few properties to pay off their sexual abuse judgments because it wasn't covered by insurance, but that doesn't qualify as a "good end".
Keep justifying and making excuses for him, Hans. It's easy to see how the pope has been elevated to god like status by his own followers.
Show me a Christian religion whose basis is the Sermon on the Mount.
It wouldn't look anything like the current Catholic Church!
If the shoe fits...
I wonder if the RCC will donate the used red shoes to the poor?
The article dealt with more than just his shoes. And, some of us (including this non-Catholic) find the whole thing very interesting from a historical perspective. We're witnessing something that hasn't happened in 600 years.
Shot
Go shoot yourself, but get a clue first.
♪♫Let's dance!
Put on your red shoes and dance the blues.
Let's dance!
To the song they're playin' on the radio.♪♫
;-)
I'm kind of with Barry -- I like the historical perspective, things we are witnessing that have not happened in centuries. It's fun to watch them "scramble" to figure out what to do.
However, I also agree that there is a LOT of corruption in the church, and I don't think this pope has done anything to stop it. Other than discovering Twitter, he's done nothing to integrate the church with the modern world and modern problems either.
As far as the "starving" are concerned, the largest population of Catholics (by percentage) is .... Central Africa with 44.93% Catholic population. (Wikipedia, which is good enough for here)
And what countries are listed, by almost ALL reporting agencies, as the poorest in the world ... yep, those in Central Africa.
So Debi and Terry too have a point, and a darn good one!
What kind of underwear will he be wearing? Make it wool...really itchy and sheared from his own flock.
@Barry-NJ
I agree. As an atheist, I do find this very fascinating, however, disagree with you on one thing.
We are not witnessing something that has only happened in the last 600 yrs, but rather, in the last 1500 or so. The decline of the Roman Catholic Church and Christianity as a whole.
You can almost visualize the Irish Catholic immigrants around 1825 rising up in economic status, along with the Italian Catholics around 1890 to begin the Catholic prevalence in the US. By the 1950s you were either a Christian American or a rotten commie.
Now, information is at everyone's finger tips. Religion cannot keep the masses ignorant for long (Well maybe some part of Kentucky or Utah) and people are doing something they have never done before. Openly admitting atheism.
Religion is an anathema (There's an irony for you).
In the US this was known hundreds of years ago. It's the reason this country, the only one on the planet, that specifically invokes a secular constitution.
We are witnessing the decline of the church, and it is a glorious advancement for mankind.
In a way, those red shoes signify all the war, suffering and death religions cause in the world. It is the blood the Pope walks through.
losghost:
What I find even more fascinating is the gullibility and frailty of the human mind to accept as fact the mere words of men, but deny the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe and the set laws of nature.
Debi - The Pope owns none of the Church's possessions so they are not his to dispose of. What is wrong with preserving priceless works of art, ancient manuscripts, historically significant buildings and other artifacts? The Vatican runs a Library and a Museam that have a trove of historical treasures that should be preserved. Maybe the President ought to sell everything in the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress to pay for Obamacare.
I'm sorry, or were you being rhetorical again?
Hey Beth, I bet you just loved the Harry Potter books. I think the Vatican bears a resemblance to Hogwarts and what I imagine to be a perfect setting for the Vampire Diaries series. As I am a survivor, nothing Catholic appeals to me. I see all things Catholic as an anchor to human evolution, a form of voodoo darkness. It is good to see that you see well and from a very different perspective. I wish you well.
So joemike, as true followers of Jesus, is that what Jesus would have done, or would Jesus have sold possessions to take care of the poor?
Again, you are trying to justify the unjustifiable.
......he should be wearing flames on his feet, just like in the hell he will end up in for serving evil at the expense of the innocent
Again, Debi, the world's largest charitable organization. The Church feeds millions of people every day, provides care to the homeless, sick and needy.
One organization can't have two purposes? You find no value in preserving the past for future generations to explore and understand our beginnings?
Hey John ... actually I did, and do, love the Harry Potter books. But, I disagree a bit with you. At least in my visualization, I see Hogwarts as more Gothic in nature ... so resembles places like the Milan Cathedral or perhaps Notre Dame ... you know ... the ones with the great gargoyles! :) The Vatican is a little too Renaissance and "goldie" to be Hogwarts!
But I appreciate your sentiment and wish you well too!
Is that what Jesus called for? Two organizations? One to accumulate and hoard wealth and the other to feed the poor? No. There is not a reason in the world other organizations who are not followers of Jesus, couldn't maintain history. Besides, although interesting, it's just material possessions. It's not just "historical artifacts" they hoard and covet, but cold, hard, unhistorical cash.
"Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'"
For those interested in the so-called "historical perspective"...the perspective you should be interested in is the rape of countless children and "his holiness' " role in covering it up.
If "starving children around the world" is your minimum definition of news, then most of what we read about every day (including the Oscars, the sequester, etc...) pales in significance. And, yet, we keep reading about them.
And then I just click my heels together three times, and say "There's no place like Rome... there's no place like Rome... There's no place like Rome..."
Wait. What? I'm losing my ruby slippers???
I guess the angels gonna wear his red shoes.
There is a place in Rome where all the clergy supposedly buy their undergarments. We tried to find it but no luck. I must say, there were some awfully good looking, young priests frisking about at the better restaurants in the evenings. All roads lead to Rome... :)
I agree that it would be good for religious organizations to be more "Christ-like" but, it's not like I see any of the people complaining about the catholic church going out and selling all their possessions to help the poor either.
Either we have an obligation to help others or we don't. Jesus said we did. If you don't believe in Jesus as Christians do, certainly you can agree with his view towards the poor? The sermon on the mount was not Christian specific. It is a sermon for all people. To say the catholic church is hypocritical for failing to do its duty to the fullest while at the same time not doing YOUR duty to each other is doubly hypocritical.
Pope and all the cardinals surrounding him look like clowns in those funny looking, loose fitting garments and high headgear. A bunch of hypocrites covering their naked sins under fancy ornated clothings.
Though many of Jesus's teachings are very noteworthy, not everyone who complains about the hypocrisy, greed and corruption of the RCC claim to be a follower of Jesus, as does the RCC and its members.
Others see the RCC as a fraud because they were given the responsibility to set the example, and century after century, continue to fail and make little to no attempt to change.
You know what? Not one of you people has the slightest idea what Jesus would do. What a bogus argument! You dislike the material wealth of the Catholic Church, so you use some view of Jesus and his opinions to justify your dislike. Leave Jesus out of it!
Ah, the exact behavior and sentiments of the RCC.
It is tragically laughable that the catholic church expends such effort dealing with such worthless symbols.
Is there anybody out there who can provide a valid reason as to why the color of the pope's shoes should matter?
Sell them on E-bay!
You Catholic-bashers claim that the media is being trivial by talking about the Pope's shoes, yet you're here reading the article and commenting on it-- as if what you're doing isn't trivial. Talk about hypocrisy! LOL
Even funnier are the comments suggesting that not writing an article about the Pope's shoes would somehow feed hungry kids, stop wars, and otherwise change the world. LMAO
Let's face it: You hate Catholicism and any excuse will do to bash it. Don't you have more important things to do with your time, like feed hungry kids, stop wars, and otherwise change the world?
This disgusting old rat b a s t a r d 's name should be changed to Pope Pedophilius Protectedus. May he rot in hell.
How do you expect them to help the poor? With donations only? By having the museums they not only preserve history for the rest of mankind to see but they are also able to raise money from tourist.
From Wikipedia:
What a coincidence; that's the same question many are asking of those is a position of wealth and power to feed hungry kids, stop wars and otherwise change the world, the RCC, instead of fretting and wasting time about what color shoes a pedophile protector is to wear.
Well, that should settle it - the pope's shoes are not Prada.
Everyone knows that the Devil wears Prada!
Prada... I wish. These are hand made shoes/slippers made by a little custom shop that caters to the extremely wealthy, ie the Pope.
Probably cost more than I take home in two months.
What's $5,000 for a pair of shoes? Drop in the bucket for Vatican expenses.
Great comment Billmmcc1. Red shoes? Ghastly.
Especially if you're an arrogant, selfish little girl who's cursed to dance in them until a woodcutter cuts your feet off. (Hans Christian Andersen: The Girl with the Red Shoes)
...Brutal!
My guess is the shoes cost about $500 a pair, after the initial fitting that included hand-carving a wooden last.
I wear Allen-Edmunds -- the last American maker of fine men's shoes. They retail for $335 a pair, but I occasionally can find them on sale for a little over $200. Some of mine are more than 30 years old.
The Pope's red shoes look like Pimp Mac Daddy Shoes.
Terry-Ca and Billmcc1..............If Jesus Christ walked the earth today he would have nothing but distain for these protectors of perverts. He would be disgusted that his name was even associated with these people.
There goes the "Dorothy" role playing. They really hit the guy where it hurts.
Good reddance.
There's no place like Rome. Click-click-click...
How rude and disrespectful!!!!
rude and disrespectful??? hahahahahahahaha.
Respect must be earned. This "man" has earned no respect, and deserves any and all insults that come his way. If anyone's been rude and disrespectful it's this creature called Benedict.
Let's dance!!! Put on your red shoes and dance the blues....
DB
He should be known in retirement as "Bennie the shoes"!
Red Shoes
"They" didn't hit him. It was his decision.
My first thought when I saw the headline was, "Now he'll never make it home to Kansas!"
I'm certain that he can get a nice pair of Christian Louboutin's with red soles for under $1,000. such a deal!!
Lighten up Sadie -- twitting the guy about red shoes is funny. In fact, some of the remarks are downright clever!
There are many more DISrespectful things that could be, and deserved, to be said about church leaders than funny comments about red shoes!
if he gets nostalgic for his red shoes he could always buy a pair of red converse chuck taylors----if he's still wearing skirts no one will notice. is this for real--do they really have rules about the color of shoes he can wear? how about dealing with the poor who don't have shoes of any color?
granny22 - I think the red shoes was something Benedict chose to do. I think I remember seeing John Paul in brown shoes.
There's no place like Rome; there's no place like Rome; there's no place like Rome . . .
Whatever happened to the days when those loyal to the faith dressed humbly?
The "Church" has not been humble for a VERY long time. Am wondering if he is not only losing his health, but also his mind. Dementia is a very real thing and if he is affected by it he would not be able to perform as pope.
The Church is not humble and they're certainly not poor. One walk down the aisles of the Vatican Museum will tell you that. And that's only what's on display. But the way to the Church's heart is through the wallet. YOUR wallet.
You mean like in a linen robe and leather sandals? Yes to that. No brocade with golden thread, no fancy rings.
Red shoes have never been about being humble. Quite the opposite:
Although, in the case of the Catholic religion – the colour red being associated with the blood of martyrdom - is still kind of weird. Still, only the very powerful and wealthy were allowed to wear shoes in those long ago days no matter what the reason behind the practice.
Correction: Still, only the very powerful and wealthy were allowed to wear RED shoes in those long ago days no matter what the reason behind the practice.
He does dress humbly. Just because his robes and shoes are of nice quality doesn't mean its flashy. They're not adorned with gold and he doesnt wear a crown of gold. I think it's humble dress.
Funny Allen, when I googled "Pope Benedict images", those looked pretty flashy to me!
Those outfits are ridiculous. A man can be a leader without wearing expensive silks, heavy garments and expensive shoes.
ah retirement to a dark corner of the vatican with my littlle boys
all he wants is the red shoes today that is ...
Personally I thought he might opt for blue suede shoes.
if it looks like a pope dresses like a pope acts like a pope....
For a parting gift he is getting a lifetime supply of Pope-Soap-on-a-rope.
The red shoes were the only thing that I liked about him.
Pope Peter 2013!
He is running before he gets caught up in his wrong doings.
Just like Sarah Palin did.
Sarah Palin ran? If you want to bring politics in it, maybe the Obamas should pack up and run.
I agree with that one too!
...not the ruby slippers????????????????????
He'll probably borrow a pair of Jerusalem Jumpers from the good nuns of the cloistered kind. He won't be off to see the wizard or on his way to Kansas any time soon, so any color will do.
Fashion dilemma ? if he can't wear his red shoes, what can he wear with his red dress ?
This is creating a fashion crisis.
Actually he can't even wear his red dresses anymore. What is the world coming to?
Reminds me of a the story about the fellow who wandered into a Catholic Church during High Mass, he took a seat to watch procession while the Priests marched down the aisle in their long brocade gowns with high hats and swinging the brass incense burners he yelled out "Oh yoo hoo! Oh yoo hoo...that's a lovely dress, but your purse is on fire!"
Yawn.....
Wake up we're talkin' ruby slippers here.
No more 'ruby slippers', huh? I think the pope should revert to being called 'Joe Ratzinger', and he should not be allowed to wear any 'religious vestments', since he was the guy who walked out on the job. He should wear a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, just like anyone else who raped a religion or a country and got away with it.
He has always reminded me of Emperor Palpatine. He just needs a black cape with a black hood !
Pope Palpatine was the previous fellow, 110%!
I think he looks plenty sinister in white. Gray scale appears crisper against a colorless background.
Well, that settles it. I'm wearing red shoes when I retire. It's going to be a trend.
Red shoes for sure, but my vestments will be Seclusion 3D Open Country.
As long as his Magnificent Infallibility gets to to keep strutting his stuff in those fetching thong lace panties, all is right with the world...
No more wearing red Prada for that Devil!
Are they going to take away his pink lace thongs as well?
i believe that's hers.-ey???
He shouldn't have been wearing red shoes anyways since symbolically they're a woman's shoes. Technically those ruby slippers aren't even red, they're more a rosy red, which means they have a touch of pink in them.
Who owns his shoes ?
The poor peasants who paid for them.
Oh no. Please do not let it be true! I can't wear my red shoes anymore?!! Oh, the agony of it all!!
The agony of de feet?
You are so bad and so funny!
All you have to do is click your heels together three times and say:
There's no place like Rome.
There's no place like Rome.
There's no place like Rome.
How is the pope's fashion relevant to our sociery? Am I missing something?
Really, people - stop believing in sky-fairies and imaginary beings. The world has too long been held back by all organized religion.
...As the Flying Monkey's take off to attack you!
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
Toto has pulled the curtain aside and revealed a mortal man at the controls instead of The Great and Magical Wizard.
And you feel you are who to tell people what to or not to believe in?
Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Evil prevails when good people hear, nothing, see nothing or say nothing. No wish to offend the obvious but the church is obviously evil.
Ah, yes, people are homeless and starving and this man gets hand-crafted shoes...
Those are the poor fool's that finance His Popeliness.
Let them eat cake.
If they can afford cake.
Really? This concerns you?
And the President of the United States vacations in Hawaii, rides around in a big jet and the Mrs. parties all over. There are hunger people here in the US too.
How about a title of "Popus DEMeritus"? I just keep thinking - what if Christ decided after going through the scourging that he had had enough? Or after he stumbled the first time - enough with this suffering bit? And of course, Peter and Paul could have copped a free pass....I guess a lifetime commitment is so old fashioned. Or, with Vatileaks, the bank scandal, stonewalling the pedo-priests investigation - maybe he just said "I'm a dead man!" and decided that was the point that you get a new Pope....
How about, " Pope Enteritis." The old fart reeks of serious gastritis !
Boy, the Catholic Church is so corrupt. Not the majority of Catholics of course. The problem is they are decent people so they keep turning a blind on the Church.
Many of us in the Catholic Church do no turn a blind (or close the curtains). We're just not willing to throw the baby out with the bath water and close down the world's largest charitable organization because a small percentage of priests have done horrible things and some of their leaders have covered up those horrible things. We think the people that have done wrong should be punished for their crimes and the Church should use some of it financial resources to make restitution to the victims of those people. We don't hate everything about and everyone in the Church and feel that most of our priests and religious remain holy, committed people who do profound good in a troubled world.
Joemike404 - - -
That needed to be said! And needed to be heard by those of us who have bashed the CC, made jokes about it and its members and have chosen to judge it as a whole.
I'm an Athiest and don't believe we need a supreme being and religion in order
to be loving, generous and forgiving beings. I think its already in us all as human beings. However, I respect what you have said I think it is important that we find some common ground on these controversial issues.