Why Pope Francis’ Ring Must Be Smashed After His Death — The Ancient Ritual Explained

Reason why Pope Francis’ ring to be destroyed with hammer

Following Pope Francis’s passing at the age of 88, the iconic gold signet ring that he wore on his right hand is scheduled to be destroyed.

In his humble Vatican quarters, Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, passed away at 7:35 AM local time on Easter Monday (April 21). Bishop Francis was born in Argentina.

During his election in 2013, the Pope, who is known for his modesty, famously chose not to dwell in the traditional papal residence, instead opting to forego the splendor of the Apostolic Palace.

It was determined that the cause of death was a cerebral stroke, which resulted in a coma and heart failure that was too severe to reverse.

The Fisherman’s Ring, which Pope Francis wore during his time as Pope, has become the focus of attention as the Catholic Church continues to move forward with funeral plans and commemoration services.

Although the ring is estimated to be worth roughly $520,000, the true importance of the ring extends far beyond its monetary value.

The signet ring, which is a symbol of the papacy, is a representation of the authority that the pope possesses inside the Catholic Church.

In accordance with Catholic tradition, the ring is presented to a newly elected pope and then destroyed after the pope’s death.

In this particular instance, Cardinal Kevin Farrell is the camerlengo, which is the person who is responsible for carrying out this procedure.

The destruction serves the purpose of ensuring that the ring cannot be misused after the death of the pope.

The ring was initially created to act as a seal for the pope’s personal letters; however, it now bears significance in ceremonial contexts.

Following the official confirmation of the pope’s death, the ring and its associated bulla (papal seal) are destroyed in the presence of the College of Cardinals.

This takes occurs shortly prior to the beginning of the papal conclave, which is the process of electing a new pope.

It takes around fifteen to twenty days from the moment of death for the process of electing a new pope to take place.

According to Sky News, Cardinal Farrell issued the following statement in which he announced the passing of Pope Francis: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.”

This morning, at 7:35, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, made his way back to the abode of the Father.

His entire life was devoted to serving the Lord and his Church. He never missed a moment of dedication.

He instilled in us the importance of putting the principles of the Gospel into practice with sincerity, bravery, and love for all people, particularly those who are the most impoverished and disadvantaged.

According to the conclusion that he reached, “We commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Triune, with immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus.”