Why did the Pope wear red shoes?

Alma · #1 Apr 6, '05, 10:39 pm

I have noticed that the Pope always wore red shoes, is there a liturgical reason for that?

dumspirospero · #2 Apr 6, '05, 10:49 pm

Red signifies Royalty or Kingship

chicago · #3 Apr 6, '05, 11:49 pm

as well as the loving blood of apostolic martyrdom

Sylvia22 · #4 Apr 7, '05, 7:45 pm

red looks really cool with his outfit too! I love the pretty colors!

Irish Melkite · #5 Apr 10, '05, 3:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alma

I have noticed that the Pope always wore red shoes, is there a liturgical reason for that?

Actually, Pope John Paul frequently wore loafers, which can be clearly seen in many photos of him.

Many years,

Neil

tee_eff_em · #6 Apr 10, '05, 3:37 am

"To keep his socks clean!"

Next: "Why do firemen wear red suspenders?"

tee

chevalier · #7 Apr 10, '05, 12:03 pm

Roman emperors wore red shoes. In the Byzantine empire, it was a part of the imperial insignia. Rulers deemed inferior to the Eastern emperor were not admitted in Byzantine territory if they didn't swap red shoes for something else. Probably, red shoes for popes were meant to signify ultimate sovereignty without being subject to any temporal authority.

Joe Kelley · #8 Apr 10, '05, 12:26 pm

Because he wants to go to Kansas?

Genesis315 · #9 Apr 10, '05, 12:35 pm

I thought JPII wore brown shoes. When he was lying in state they made a big deal about it.

thann · #10 Apr 11, '05, 6:33 am

His shoes were definitely red, a very dark, fine read leather loafer. When my mom returned from Rome several years ago, where she had an audience with him, one of the first things she said was, "His shoes are RED!"

Here is a link to my mom's group -- you can see His Holiness' red shoes pretty clearly. (My mom is the one in the red sweater.)

John Paul II and his red shoes

'thann

**mercygate** · #11 Apr 11, '05, 6:38 am

I always thought it was kind of poetic, since the Holy Spirit is depicted as a white dove, and doves have red feet.

JKirkLVNV · #12 Apr 11, '05, 6:40 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by thann

His shoes were definitely red, a very dark, fine read leather loafer. When my mom returned from Rome several years ago, where she had an audience with him, one of the first things she said was, "His shoes are RED!"

Here is a link to my mom's group -- you can see His Holiness' red shoes pretty clearly. (My mom is the one in the red sweater.)

John Paul II and his red shoes

'thann

They're as red as the red in the carpet! How blessed was your mother!