He Vatican confirmed on Tuesday the formal deactivation of the Fisherman’s ring belonging to dad Franciscojust 16 days of his death. This gesture of great symbolic load meant the Official Closing of his Papacy And it was done in Vespers of the conclave in which the cardinals will meet to designate the New leader of the Church.
The Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni He informed that the process was carried out according to the guidelines of the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregisestablished in 1996 by John Paul II and in force during the period known as vacant headquarters.
The task fell to Camarlengo, the American cardinal Joseph Kevin Farrellwho verified the death of the Argentine pontiff and supervised both the uselessness of the ring and that of the traditional Lead sealtwo objects used historically for legitimize documents of the papacy.
What represents the fisherman ring
The canceled piece, known by its name in Latin ANULUS PISCATORIShas represents the legitimacy of the Pope as heir to San Pedro. His design shows Pedro in a boat, launching a network, alluding to the words of Jesus in the Gospel: “I will make you fisherman of men.”
This ring It is delivered to each new Pope at the time of assuming his pontificate and, together with the Episcopal Palioit constitutes one of the emblems that They symbolize their authority as bishop of Rome. In 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio opted for a version in Golden Silverinstead of the traditional solid gold, reflecting its austere style.
Since the thirteenth century, the ring serves as a tool for officially seal papal documentswhich gives it a functional value in addition to the ceremonial. Hence the need to eliminate its usefulness When a pontificate concludes.
Why have they destroyed the ring of Pope Francis
The act of destroying the Fisherman’s ring responds to very strict norms dictated by the Church. According to the Universi Dominici GregisCamarlengo must ensure that both the ring and other elements related to the position are useless for prevent possible falsifications or improper uses during the absence of a acting pope.
Traditionally, this procedure is done hitting the ring with a silver hammer or marking it with a deep crosssymbol of your disqualification. Thus they also proceeded after the death of John Paul II.
In 2013, the case was different, since when giving up Benedict XVIhis ring did not break, but He marked it with an “X”which prevented its subsequent use. The measure was accepted as valid due to the unpublished circumstances of that abdication.
From the Vatican They reiterated that “Objects closely linked to the exercise of the Petrino Ministry must be annulled”, In allusion not only to the ring, but also to the lead seal, used to authenticate certain reserved documents.
This deactivation process seeks completely close the previous papacy cycle. It represents, at the same time, an institutional shelter and a spiritual symbol, where Nothing from the government of the previous Pope can remain active At the beginning of the transition period.
The elimination of these objects not only marks the end point of an ETAPA, but establishes a threshold towards a new beginning. The Catholic church Considers that only once these elements can be fully spoken of the beginning of a new ecclesial era.
This protocol is part of a Tradition with centuries of antiquity. It is a measure that points to reinforce the legitimacy of the future Pontiff and shield the institutionality of the Vatican before any attempt to manipulate.
The end of the papacy and the expectation for the conclave in the Vatican
In this context, the Conclave Convened for this Wednesday it acquired even more relevance. The cardinals gathered in the Sixtin chapelThey will be in charge of choosing Francisco’s successor, opening a new page in the history of Catholicism.
The rite that surrounds the uselessness of the ring is part of a complex institutional liturgy, in which every detail counts. In this sense, the Holy See seeks to preserve the balance between the spiritual and the administrativeor, and guarantee an orderly and legitimate transition.
In this way, the end of Francisco’s pontificate was officially and definitively sealed. With the destroyed ringthe neutralized seal and the vacant headquarters Formally declared, the attention of the Catholic world is now concentrated in what will happen in the conclave. There will be defined who will guide the Catholic church In the coming years.
Source: Ambito
