Following Pope Francis's passing, the Vatican is abuzz as cardinals gather to elect his successor. The conclave, a secretive ...

As tradition dictates, the late pontiff’s signet ring will be destroyed — or defaced, at least — within the walls of the Vatican following his death on Easter Monday.

The ring and seal are destroyed or nulled after a pope’s death to prevent their future misuse to seal official documents.

This role as a seal was replaced by a stamp in the 19th ... Pope Francis chose a gilded silver signet ring, made from a jewel that belonged to Archbishop Pasquale Macchi, secretary to Pope Paul ...

During his first public mass at St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV received the Fisherman’s Ring as the continuation of a unique jewellery tradition. The Fisherman’s Ring is a signet ring worn by the ...

Engraved on its oblong, flat surface is an unidentified symbol, which resembles two asterisk marks. It could be the mark of a ...

Photo from the Wawel Royal Castle Centuries ago, signet rings were worn by numerous individuals ... they could be used to produce a unique seal, meant to indicate the identity of the owner.