Did Pope John Paul II wear red shoes?

Answer 1

The tradition of the popes wearing red shoes were carried over from the customs of ancient Rome itself. In fact, by the time of the Byzantine Empire only three people are allowed to officially wear red shoes in the empire: the Emperor, the Empress, and the Pope. Even in art, depictions of people wearing red shoes are severely restricted to the above-mentioned or the angels.

During ancient times, the manner and style of dress signified and symbolized rank, heritage, group or cultural affiliations, status, also of privilege. This was more true then than it is now. The manner and style of a person identifies him. For example, during the Yuan dynasty, only the Khan can wear green under pain of death. And during the Ching/Manchu dynasty only the Emperor can wear the Imperial yellow.

The toga, for example, was exclusively worn only by Roman citizens. The toga praetexta, furthermore, can only be worn by magistrates as this was a symbol of his office and rank. The republican senators wore red shoes, as did the Roman patricians. This custom was carried over from even before the Roman Empire, and before the Roman Republic tracing it back to the Kingdom of Rome. Thus this manner and custom of privilege of footwear is very ancient.

By the time of the Edict of Milan in 313 under Constantine the Great, Christianity was finally tolerated and the status of the Church enhanced throughout the Roman Empire. It was around this time that the bishops received the privilege of wearing the purple - a privilege still seen today. It was around this time after the toleration of Christianity and the transfer and donation of the imperial Lateran palace and Lateran basilica to the Bishop of Rome, (Pope Miltiades) and to the Church that privileges of imperial rank and imperial status are crystallized in the manner of footwear. Thus this privilege of red shoes can be (circumstantially, since firsthand written historical or archeological evidence have since been lost or destroyed by successive waves of barbarian pillage and destruction and looting during wars) traced at this point. The ancient Roman custom has now become Christian.

When the capital was transfered to Constantinople in 330, by political necessity the then suffragan bishopric of Byzantium was raised to an archbishopric. It was around this time that aspirations to greater status by the Archbishop of Constantinople becomes evident. Although only Rome, Antioch and Alexandria were patriarchates, by 381 a canon was inserted (and refused by the Popes) to establish the Archbishop of Constantinople as Patriarch. Political vicissitudes under the patronage of the Emperor, notably after 451 would later impress the status quo we have today by creating the Patriarchates of Constantinople and of Jerusalem. It was only after the Council of Florence in the 15th century that the Roman Church accepted the status quo of the Pentarchy. Although the Patriarchs of Constantinople have a history of trying to usurp authority and privilege during the Byzantine Empire, nevertheless, the ancient Roman privilege of red shoes were never extended nor granted to the Patriarch of Constantinople or anybody else in the Empire - a fact that remains to this day in life and iconography.

Answer 2

ÊThe shoes are red to represent the catholic martyrs through history. They are also red to represent what Christ's feet probably looked like as he was beaten on the way to the cross. They also symbolise the submission of the Pope to Jesus.

Answer 3

The tradition of the popes wearing red shoes were carried over from the customs of ancient Rome itself. In fact, by the time of the Byzantine Empire only three people are allowed to officially wear red shoes in the empire: the Emperor, the Empress, and the Pope. Even in art, depictions of people wearing red shoes are severely restricted to the above-mentioned or the angels.

During ancient times, the manner and style of dress signified and symbolized rank, heritage, group or cultural affiliations, status, also of privilege. This was more true then than it is now. The manner and style of a person identifies him. For example, during the Yuan dynasty, only the Khan can wear green under pain of death. And during the Ching/Manchu dynasty only the Emperor can wear the Imperial yellow.

The toga, for example, was exclusively worn only by Roman citizens. The toga praetexta, furthermore, can only be worn by magistrates as this was a symbol of his office and rank. The republican senators wore red shoes, as did the Roman patricians. This custom was carried over from even before the Roman Empire, and before the Roman Republic tracing it back to the Kingdom of Rome. Thus this manner and custom of privilege of footwear is very ancient.

By the time of the Edict of Milan in 313 under Constantine the Great, Christianity was finally tolerated and the status of the Church enhanced throughout the Roman Empire. It was around this time that the bishops received the privilege of wearing the purple - a privilege still seen today. It was around this time after the toleration of Christianity and the transfer and donation of the imperial Lateran palace and Lateran basilica to the Bishop of Rome, (Pope Miltiades) and to the Church that privileges of imperial rank and imperial status are crystallized in the manner of footwear. Thus this privilege of red shoes can be (circumstantially, since firsthand written historical or archeological evidence have since been lost or destroyed by successive waves of barbarian pillage and destruction and looting during wars) traced at this point. The ancient Roman custom has now become Christian.

When the capital was transfered to Constantinople in 330, by political necessity the then suffragan bishopric of Byzantium was raised to an archbishopric. It was around this time that aspirations to greater status by the Archbishop of Constantinople becomes evident. Although only Rome, Antioch and Alexandria were patriarchates, by 381 a canon was inserted (and refused by the Popes) to establish the Archbishop of Constantinople as Patriarch. Political vicissitudes under the patronage of the Emperor, notably after 451 would later impress the status quo we have today by creating the Patriarchates of Constantinople and of Jerusalem. It was only after the Council of Florence in the 16th century that the Roman Church accepted the status quo of the Pentarchy. Although the Patriarchs of Constantinople have a history of trying to usurp authority and privilege during the Byzantine Empire, nevertheless, the ancient Roman privilege of red shoes were never extended nor granted to the Patriarch of Constantinople or anybody else in the Empire - a fact that remains to this day in life and iconography.

Pope Benedict XVI is merely continuing this ancient tradition. Pope John Paul II was known to sometimes wear brown shoes during his pontificate, this is why there seems to be the urban fiction that he did not wear red shoes; however, the papal custom of wearing red shoes has been continually practiced by the Roman Pontiffs since it was adopted since the time of Constantine, which was also just a continuation of the ancient Roman Imperial custom.

Answer 4

The wearing of red shoes has absolutely nothing to do with looking snazzy nor is it something Benedict XVI just brought into "fashion," The red shoes worn by popes dates back to the earliest days of the Church. For many years the popes wore all red. Pope Pius V (1566), who was a Dominican (who wear all white) changed the papal garb to white except he retained the cappello (a wide circular brimmed hat), cape and shoes the color red. It is symbolic of the blood shed by martyrs who followed in the footsteps of Christ. It also recognizes the bloodshed of Christ and the pope's own submission to God's ultimate authority and to the fire of the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis, perhaps in keeping with the Jesuit tradition of wearing all black, has decided to forgo the red shoes.

Answer 5

Early in his pontificate Pope John Paul II wore red shoes; however he quickly adopted wearing ordinary brown shoes.

Answer 6

The pope can choose whatever color shoes he wishes to wear. Francis has decided to forgo the customary red shoes worn by pontiffs and wear simple black shoes.

Answer 7

Whatever the reason for many former popes to wear red shoes, Pope Francis has reverted to wearing black shoes, as evidence of his humble and more frugal nature.

Answer 8

The pope can wear any color he wishes. Pope Benedict XVI chose to wear the customary red shoes but Pope Francis I has worn only black or brown shoes.

Answer 9

Pope Francis I, apparently, has chosen to wear simple black shoes rather than the red papal shoes.

Answer 10

The only Catholic priest that traditionally wears red shoes is the pope.