Papal Anecdotes

A certain incompetent artists prevailed upon Pope Pius IX to sit for a portrait and when the canvas was finished, urged the Holy Father to sign it with a few words from the Holy Scriptures. The Pope glanced at the portrait, which was so poorly done it scarcely resembled him, and complied with the artist's request. Not until later did it dawn on the artist the Pope had written the words of Our Lord, "Nolite timere, ergo sum" which mean "Fear not, it is I"

The mother of Pope Pius X was one of the favoured few who lived to witness the consecration of her son as sovereign pontiff. After the ceremony ended, the Pope walked over to his mother and held out his hand. "I would like you to be the first to kiss the ring of the fisherman." His mother bent and kissed the pope's ring. Then she held out her own hand with its slightly tarnished wedding ring. "Now, Joseph," she commanded, "you kiss this one. If it wasn't for this one, you would not have that one."

Pope John XXIII had a warm, down-to-earth sense of humour. One time a new building had to be constructed on Vatican grounds. The architect submitted the plans to His Holiness, who shortly afterward returned them with these Latin three Latin words written in the margin: "Non sumus angeli", that is to say "We are not angels." The architect and his staff were non-plussed as to what the Pope meant, until finally someone noticed the plans did not include bathrooms.

When King Louis Philippe's minister, Thiers, made a visit to Rome, he requested an audience with Pope Gregory XVI but on the condition that, as a Protestant, he should not have to kneel before the Pope or kiss his hand. When the Pope was informed of this, he replied with a smile that the minister could do as he pleased. When the minister finally entered the room he felt a strange feeling take possession of him and knelt down in front of the Pope to kiss his foot. The Pope asked him: "Did you perhaps stumble over something, Monsieur Thiers?" To which the Frenchman replied, "Truly, we all stumble at the greatness of the papacy."