When Pope Benedict XVI was elevated in 2005, people the world over noticed his swanky red shoes made by Italian designer Adriano Stefanelli. Neither the preceding nor the following pope wore such expensive shoes, but Benedict was only continuing a papal tradition that goes back to the Byzantine era, when kings and emperors alike wore red shoes.
Now, historically speaking, Vatican life was pretty luxurious. Pope Martin IV spent a fortune to import his favourite delicacies of melon, and eels boiled in wine. Pope Leo X had a pet white elephant named “Hanno.” Extravagance was standard, and not even the Pope’s shoes escaped it. They became more and more ornate, and were even kissed by visitors just as one kisses the ring of the papa today…
The styles and requirements of each pope have been different, so their shoes have been different, but many stayed with the tradition of the color red, whether they were comfy slippers or dress shoes. Read about the red shoes of the pope at Messy Nessy Chic.