During the Inaugural Mass of his papacy on May 18, Pope Leo XIV will be formally presented with the Ring of the Fisherman—a time-honored emblem of the authority entrusted to the Apostle Peter, deeply anchored in biblical tradition.
The Vatican’s Office for Liturgical Celebrations has unveiled the design of the new ring that will grace Pope Leo XIV’s hand. It bears the image of Saint Peter, the first Pope, who is given special prominence in the Gospels: in Matthew 16:19, Christ grants Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and in Luke 22:32, He commands him to fortify the faith of his brethren.
Symbolizing this sacred charge, the Ring of the Fisherman signifies both fidelity to the Christian mission and continuity of apostolic leadership. The name itself derives from Peter’s vocation as a fisherman—a humble beginning that gave rise to a profound spiritual legacy. The ring, also known as the Piscatory Ring, embodies this lineage from Peter to each of his successors.
The Ring of the Fisherman has adorned popes since at least the 13th century. Historically, it functioned as a seal, imprinting wax on papal correspondence until the practice was retired in 1842. Though its purpose is now ceremonial, the ring remains a powerful visual representation of papal identity. Each pontiff receives a ring crafted solely for him.
Upon the death of a pope, his ring is ritually defaced with a chisel, symbolically ending his authority and preventing unauthorized use of the papal seal. No two rings are the same; each bears its own artistic identity and theological message.
In 2013, Pope Francis accepted a gold-plated silver ring originally owned by a former secretary to Pope Paul VI. Before him, Pope Benedict XVI wore a solid gold ring etched with an image of Peter casting his nets from a boat.
Continuing this sacred tradition, Pope Leo XIV will wear a newly created ring featuring Saint Peter with the keys and a fishing net—iconography that not only honors the past but confirms his acceptance of the sacred mandate passed down for more than two millennia, as he becomes the 266th successor to Peter’s throne.