- 10:30
Upon the death of a pope, some of his jewels are deliberately destroyed, starting with the Ring of the Fisherman. This ritual act symbolically marks the end of his spiritual authority and prevents any posthumous manipulation or usurpation.
When a pope dies, it’s not only the prayers of the Catholic world that accompany his passing. Behind the scenes, a ritual—codified, discreet, and often unknown—takes place, such as the destruction of certain jewels. Among them, the most well-known is the Ring of the Fisherman, ritually broken in public. Other items—seals, pectoral crosses, personal insignia—may also be destroyed, neutralized, or sealed. Why this gesture, rare in monarchies or presidencies? What does it reveal about the nature of papal power and the political culture of the Catholic Church?
A Ring Like No Other
Worn on the pope’s right ring finger, the Ring of the Fisherman (in Latin anulus piscatoris) is more than just a piece of jewelry. It represents the direct link between the pope and his role as the successor of Saint Peter, the “fisher of men.” This ring is unique to each papacy: it bears the pope’s name in Latin, along with an image of Peter casting his nets. It was long used to seal official documents, authenticating them with a wax imprint.
Upon the pope’s death, this ring is publicly broken—traditionally with hammer blows, though today it may be done more symbolically—during the sede vacante period (when the papal seat is vacant). This gesture marks the end of any papal authority. It also prevents forgery by making it impossible to use the deceased pope’s seal. The destruction of the ring is therefore both symbolic and a security measure.
The Camerlengo: Master of the Ritual
The ritual is presided over by the Camerlengo, the Vatican administrator during the papal vacancy. He is responsible for confirming the pope’s death, organizing the funeral, and overseeing the conclave. It is he who breaks the Ring of the Fisherman in the presence of cardinals, using a specific tool (often a silver hammer). This moment is not merely administrative: it is a ceremonial end to a sacred power, highlighting that the man—even a pope—is transient, while the office endures.
But the ring is not the only item to be destroyed or neutralized. Other personal or symbolic objects may also be removed from circulation after the pope’s death.
What Happens to the Other Papal Jewels?
Beyond the Ring of the Fisherman, popes possess various liturgical or personal items of value: a pectoral cross, personal rings, specific insignia, and sometimes a pastoral staff, ornate mitre, or ferula (the papal staff topped with a cross). While not all of these items are systematically destroyed, they are meticulously inventoried and placed under seal. Some are kept in the Vatican, others entrusted to archives or museums.
For example, pectoral crosses worn by popes may, by tradition, be given to museums, posthumously gifted to close ones, or melted down if they are too personally marked. Their fate depends on the symbolic value attributed to them: anything directly tied to the exercise of spiritual authority is typically neutralized at the end of the papacy.
The case of the ferula (papal staff) is interesting: recent popes, such as John Paul II and Francis, used personalized designs, distinct from the traditional golden staff. This reflects a trend toward individualizing the papacy, and in some cases, these items become part of historical collections after the pope’s death. But if the ferula was given away or remains symbolically linked to the pope’s authority, it may be removed from worship.
A Tradition Inherited from the Past
This ritual is part of a medieval tradition of neutralizing sacred power. In times when popes were also temporal rulers, a pope’s death raised major political issues. It was essential to avoid fraudulent continuity, prevent the circulation of forged documents, and clearly cut off any lingering power tied to objects.
The destruction of the ring or other jewels is inspired by ancient royal practices, where a deceased king’s scepter or seal would be broken. For the pope, the stakes are even higher: he is not just a king, but the vicar of Christ on earth. His power must end in a clear, incontestable, and visible way.
This gesture, moreover, is not limited to death. In 2013, when Benedict XVI abdicated, the Ring of the Fisherman was marked with an X to signify it would never be used again. Even though the pope was alive, his role had ended—and with it, the active use of all symbols of his authority.
Still, this ritual sometimes clashes with the desire to preserve the memory of the deceased pontiff. In an era of archiving, digitization, and museum curation, the deliberate destruction of papal objects can seem surprising. Some regret that historically valuable items are destroyed, as they could testify to the material and spiritual richness of a papacy. Others believe this deliberate disappearance is a lesson in humility, true to the Gospel spirit: power belongs not to man, but to the mission.
The Church itself is adapting. While the official ring is destroyed, it’s not uncommon for the pope to have other personal rings or jewelry—gifts, heirlooms, or privately worn pieces—which are preserved. Some join the Vatican’s private collections, others are displayed publicly, like John Paul II’s pectoral cross, now visible in multiple museums.
The destruction of certain papal jewels is neither a barbaric act nor a mere formality: it is a political, spiritual, and symbolic gesture. It serves as a reminder that the papacy is a temporary role, not a personal possession, and that faith is grounded in humility and service rather than prestige. The ritual also protects the Church from fraud and posthumous misuse. In the case of Pope Francis, the tradition takes on particular resonance: having eschewed ostentation, he wore a simple silver ring in daily life and, in 2013, received a Fisherman’s Ring made of gold-plated silver rather than solid gold. He consistently embodied a radical simplicity. By rendering this ring unusable after his death on April 21, 2025, the Church not only marks the end of his pontificate, but also affirms—through this final gesture—the integrity of a pope who lived and led without ever clinging to the material symbols of power.
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