7 Fun facts about the pope

Does the pope have an annual salary? Why does the pope wear white?

The papacy is fascinating to many people and mysterious to others.

Here is a brief list of 7 fun facts about the pope that help explain the papacy and its traditions.

1. Why does the pope wear white? – Pius V did not wish to give up the habit of St. Dominic de Guzman that marked him as a member of the Order of Preachers. The distinctive white robes have since become standard papal apparel.
2. History behind red and black papal shoes – Pope Francis initially chose to wear the red shoes only indoors and opted for the black outdoor shoes he has always worn — and with which he arrived to the Vatican — as a sign of humility and austerity.
3. Why the pope wears a “pointed” hat – The more prominent hat that bishops wear is the miter and denotes the authority of the bishop.
4. History of the “zucchetto,” the white hat the pope always wears – Literally translated to “little pumpkin” from Italian, the zuchetto’s original version was a felt skullcap known as the pileolus, meant to keep clerics’ heads warm in the cold.
5. Does the pope have an annual salary? – In 2001 there were rumors that St. John Paul II made a decent salary, but the New York Times reported, “Vatican spokesman, Joaquín Navarro-Valls, ended speculation about the pope’s salary, saying, ‘The pope does not and has never received a salary.'”
6. Here are 10 official titles of the pope and their meaning – Over time the pope has gained many different titles that reflect different aspects of his ministry.
7. What do Catholics mean by apostolic succession? – Apostolic succession refers to the belief that today’s bishops in the Catholic Church are direct successors of the apostles.

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What is the annual salary of Pope Francis?