Pope Francis‘s Simple Style: A Deliberate Message of Humility

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In⁣ 2013, a columnist observed the widespread praise for the newly elected Pope Francis, succinctly capturing the sentiment:⁤ “do you like Pope Francis? you’ll love Jesus.” This observation highlights how Francis’s choices, especially in attire, resonated with many.

Just as some believe Jesus embraced humble garments to emphasize his concern for the poor and detachment from material possessions, Pope Francis’s sartorial decisions – known⁤ for his vocal support of migrants and the oppressed – ⁤conveyed a similar message.

Following⁣ news of the 88-year-old ⁤Pope’s death, observers fondly recalled a man who purchased ⁢his own eyeglasses, traveled within Vatican City in a Ford Focus, and resided in the Vatican guest house rather than ⁤the opulent papal apartments, breaking with tradition.

A Stark Contrast to Benedict XVI

Francis’s preference ⁣for simplicity presented a ⁣striking contrast to his predecessor, ⁣Pope Benedict XVI, who embraced the papal wardrobe with enthusiasm, reviving luxurious, old-world styles – such as the camauro cap and red shoes – unseen for decades.

Benedict XVI’s ⁣theological approach ⁣was scholarly and academic, deeply ⁣rooted in Catholic tradition. His clothing choices ⁢reflected this reverence ⁢and a ⁣direct connection to the foundations of the Catholic⁤ faith.

Rejection of ⁣Traditional Garments

Pope ⁣Francis made ⁤his initial appearance as pontiff on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica without the customary ‍red⁢ mozzetta or gold-embroidered stole. Rather of ⁢a gold pectoral cross, he wore the same silver cross he ⁢had used as a‍ bishop in Buenos Aires. In subsequent ⁢years, ‍he favored simpler, unadorned versions of traditional papal vestments.

“Noble Simplicity”

According to Philippine Sisci, an Italian designer who created sacred clothing for Pope Francis, the pontiff favored a “noble ⁤simplicity,” a theme of the Second Vatican Council reforms of the mid-20th century.

Sisci suggested ⁤that ⁣francis’s south American background influenced his style, ⁢distancing him from deep-rooted European liturgical traditions. She speculated that the medieval era, particularly as depicted in Giotto’s frescoes, might have inspired his sacred garments.

For many Catholics, Francis’s⁣ clothing choices evoked a different sentiment. Arthur P. ⁣Urbano, a theology professor ⁤at Providence College, noted that the chasubles he wore resembled⁤ those worn by ordinary priests in local parishes, and his mitres were similarly simple.

Downplaying Traditional Attire

Francis also verbally downplayed the importance of traditional clerical attire. Cardinal Mario Grech of ‍Malta recounted ⁣to Maltese news media that⁤ Francis once jokingly asked him, “Did you come dressed ⁣for a wedding? You could have attended the meeting in jeans.”

Urbano noted that ⁣Francis sometimes referenced clerical clothing styles in his ⁤homilies,⁤ describing long black cassocks and wide-brimmed Saturno hats as representing “traditionalism and rigidity” within certain segments of the Church.These styles were more prevalent before the Second Vatican Council reforms, although Benedict XVI revived the latter.

Urbano stated, “The visual contrast between Francis and⁢ Benedict ⁤is still ⁣shocking to me.” While ⁤it was rumored ⁤that ⁤Benedict wore Prada shoes, it was also popularly‍ believed that Francis had written⁤ a poem containing the lines: “We need saints without veil or cassock, we ⁣need saints who wear jeans and shoes.”

Everyday accessories

Francis also⁣ opted for ⁤everyday accessories, such as a Swatch watch or a Casio MQ-24, the latter priced at approximately $22.95 in the ⁢U.S. “The choice of shoes was remarkable: francis was leaving aside the sacred ⁢red footwear in favor of what any octogenarian⁤ would choose.”

His appearance often ‍reminded observers that he was, ⁢above all, a person with eyes that needed glasses and feet that grew tired, perhaps echoing the legend of his namesake, Saint Francis of Assisi. According to accounts of the 12th-century friar, he ⁣rejected the luxurious clothing afforded by his family’s wealth and, from time to time, disrobed in public,⁣ giving his clothes to the poor as an act of humility before God.

Recently, after spending 38 days in the⁢ hospital recovering from double pneumonia, Francis made an unannounced appearance in St. Peter’s Basilica wearing perhaps the most unconventional papal attire of all: street clothes. ⁢Greeting those present from⁢ his wheelchair, the Pope wore black pants and a⁤ white long-sleeved shirt under a blanket. Urbano concluded,”He went to‍ the Basilica,like any other pilgrim,to pray.”