AuctionsMar 12, 2025
A Medieval Bishop’s Sapphire Ring Is Going Up for SalePolicies & IssuesMay 14, 2025
Here’s What Happened to Pope Francis’ Ring
Before Pope Leo XIV was elected, a centuries-old procedure regarding the late pontiff’s ring was followed.
The late Pope Francis, seen here wearing a simple silver ring, often wore a gold-plated silver Fisherman’s Ring during papal ceremonies. The history of the Fisherman’s ring and the rules about what must be done with it after a pope dies date back centuries. (Image courtesy of the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See (Vatican)’s Facebook page)
New York—Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected pope, the first American to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, and has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV.
Prevost officially will be installed as pontiff during his first public mass, scheduled for May 18 at St. Peter’s Square.
He also will receive a Fisherman’s Ring. While details about his ring are not yet available, it will likely follow tradition and feature an image of St. Peter.
Before that process to elect a new pope began, however, there was another tradition involving Pope Francis’ ring that was honored.
According to a post on X, on May 6, a Vatican employee used a chisel to deface the seal on Pope Francis’ ring in front of the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church and the College of Cardinals in Synod Hall at the Vatican.
The camerlengo is the cardinal who serves as treasurer to the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City.
Prevost officially will be installed as pontiff during his first public mass, scheduled for May 18 at St. Peter’s Square.
He also will receive a Fisherman’s Ring. While details about his ring are not yet available, it will likely follow tradition and feature an image of St. Peter.
Before that process to elect a new pope began, however, there was another tradition involving Pope Francis’ ring that was honored.
According to a post on X, on May 6, a Vatican employee used a chisel to deface the seal on Pope Francis’ ring in front of the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church and the College of Cardinals in Synod Hall at the Vatican.
The camerlengo is the cardinal who serves as treasurer to the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City.
Come tradizione in tempo di Sede Vacante, questa mattina nell’Aula del Sinodo sono stati annullati l’Anello del Pescatore e il Sigillo di piombo di Papa Francesco alla presenza del Camerlengo di Santa Romana Chiesa e del Collegio dei Cardinali. pic.twitter.com/LAED4vlrcN
— Segreteria di Stato della Santa Sede (@TerzaLoggia) May 6, 2025
The meaning behind the pope’s ring, and its destruction, are steeped in history.
The tradition of the “Fisherman’s Ring,” the signet ring worn by the pope, dates back to the 13th century, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
The name refers to St. Peter the Apostle, who was said to be a fisherman and is considered to be the first pope in Catholic tradition.
The signet ring is given to the pope at his papal inauguration.
Pope Francis, known for his reserved nature, eschewed tradition, opting for a gold-plated silver Fisherman’s Ring rather than a pure gold one, according to the National Catholic Reporter.
The ring features an image of St. Peter holding the keys to heaven, and was designed by artist Enrico Manfrini, as per the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
St. Peter is said to be the guard at the gates of heaven, an image often depicted in religious art. The idea stems from a Bible passage (Matthew 16:19) in which Jesus tells Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
Embed from Getty Images
Manfrini, who died in 2004, had made several medals and other pieces for Pope Paul VI (1963–78). The pope’s secretary, Archbishop Pasquale Macchi, kept a wax form of a ring that was never cast into metal.
According to the USCCB, the cast was given to Monsignor Ettore Malnati, who worked closely with Pope Paul VI. Malnati had a gold-plated silver ring made using the cast.
This ring was presented to the new Pope Francis and ultimately was the one he chose to be his Fisherman’s Ring.
It was presented to him at his Mass of Inauguration on March 19, 2013.
Choosing a gold-plated silver ring that already had been designed seems to be on brand for Pope Francis, who was known for avoiding the pomp and circumstance traditionally associated with the papacy and encouraged others to live a humbler life too.
During his Christmas homily in 2018, Pope Francis called on those in developed countries to live a less materialistic life.
“Let us ask ourselves: Do I really need all these material objects and complicated recipes for living? Can I manage without all these unnecessary extras and live a life of greater simplicity?” he said.
“For many people, life’s meaning is found in possessing, in having an excess of material objects. An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive.”
It is customary to destroy the ring after a pope’s death because, like all signet rings, it historically was used as a wax seal, guaranteeing the authenticity of the pope’s letters and, later on, for papal briefs.
The pope’s practice of using his ring for the wax seal dates back to the 13th century, first mentioned in a letter written by Pope Clement IV (1265–68), according to Catholic World Online.
The practice was discontinued in 1842, and the popes from then on used a papal stamp.
Despite the switch to a stamp, the tradition of destroying the pope’s ring continued for more than a century.
In 1996, Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) issued the “Universi Dominici Gregis,” an apostolic constitution that outlines what to do when the pontiff’s seat is vacant, including destroying the ring, and how to elect the next pope.
The custom of destroying the ring changed in 2013, when Pope Benedict XVI resigned. The cardinal camerlengo opted instead to mark a cross on the seal using a chisel, as was done with Pope Francis’ ring.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
PodcastsApr 15, 2026
Episode 4: The Natural Diamond DilemmaSally Morrison and Mark Klein discuss De Beers’ first beacon in 16 years and the mistake the industry made with lab-grown diamonds.
