VATICAN(BullionStreet): Pope Francis will wear a new papal ring, the ring of the fisherman also known as the Piscatory Ring, a unique piece of jewelry that is cast for each pope.
Former Pope Benedict XVI's ring has been kissed by everyone from heads of state to cardinals and priests to ordinary people from every walk of life and scores of countries.
The pope's ring is also, technically, an official seal, exclusive only to him. So when Benedict resigned, so did his ring.
Traditionally, the ring is broken with a hammer. Master goldsmith Claudio Franchi, the man who made the ring for Benedict is in a unique position to explain the symbolism.
“According to ancient ritual, described in history going back to the 13th Century, the ring is used as a seal to stamp official documents.
After a serving pope dies the ring is destroyed with a silver hammer by the Camerlengo in front of the Cardinals in order to avoid forgery. For Benedict the ring was a symbol not a seal.
” The ring is marked with a cross on the upper part as a symbol of the end of the papacy," he said. "It is not destroyed."
The chosen design for Benedict ring was inspired by a Michelangelo painting. The final concept required more than 200 sketches and colored drawings.
The ring is 35 grams of pure gold. It took eight artisans working 15 hours a day for two weeks to make it. That adds up to an expensive piece of jewelry, but some things can't be measured in money.
It is also the product of skill passed on from father to sons, and honed over a lifetime.
As a Roman goldsmith, Franchi said a papal commission was "the highest point of my career." And it looks like it may be repeated.
The Vatican has announced that the new pope's ring will be the same as the old one -- except for the name change.
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