The ring of the fisherman is the badge of the Papauté which the Pape at the beginning of his pontificate receives. It owes its name with the fact that it represents holy Pierre fishing with the net in its boat, an evocation of the famous abundant fishing which the apostle at the place carried out where Jesus ressuscity says to him to throw its nets.

Significance

Since the first millenium, this ring authenticates the faith of the bishop who carries it. In the beginning, this ring was the private seal of the pope, used to seal the Bref S and the Encyclique S, in opposition to the bubble of lead, its official and solemn seal. Nowadays, if it is not used any more to seal, the ring of the fisherman remains a badge of the pontifical capacity. After the death of the pope, it is solemnly broken by the cardinal Camerlingue, at the same time as the lead seal, in the presence of the cardinals.

Quotation

“Today still, the Church and the successors of the apostles are invited to take the broad one on the ocean of the history and to throw the nets, to conquer the men with Christ Us, the men, we live alienated, in salt water of the suffering and death; in an ocean of darkness, without light. The net of the Gospel draws us out of water of died and introduces us into the splendor of the light of God, in the true life.” (Benoit XVI)