What’s in the Pope’s bag? ‘Not a key for the atom bomb!’
January 20, 2015 12:51pm
As he walked out to the tarmac on Monday at the end of his five-day visit to the Philippines, Pope Francis was seen carrying his own bag, an ordinary black leather satchel.

Ever wonder what's in it?

“It wasn't the key for the atom bomb!” the Pope joked when he was asked about it in a papal flight in 2013. “There was a razor, a breviary (liturgical book), an appointment book, [and] a book to read.”

Pope Francis, who has endeared himself to devotees for his simplicity and humility, makes no fuss about carrying his own luggage “because that's what I've always done.”

“When I travel, I carry it,” he said. “I have always taken a bag with me when travelling — it's normal.”

“We must get used to being normal. The normality of life," Pope Francis added.

Simple cassock, shoes

Setting a tone of simplicity early in his papacy, Pope Francis has shown a pared-down style, preferring to don a simple white cassock similar to what he wore during his events in the Philippines.

This came in contrast to his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who “reached deep into the church's closet of vestments and regalia to emphasize its rich tradition,” according to a report on the Washington Post.

He first did this after his election as the new leader of the Catholic Church in 2013, where he said he'd “prefer not to” wear the mozzetta, “the historic shoulder-length velvet cape” used when the new Pope is presented to the world.

Pope Francis went out of the balcony wearing the official papal “uniform,” the all-white ensemble of cassock, sash, and skullcap.

Many have noted that the Pope is still using his old black leather shoes.

In the Philippines, Pope Francis wore a yellow poncho at several events, particularly for his visit in Tacloban City and Palo town in Leyte, where there was inclement weather. Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News

Go to comments



We welcome healthy discussions and friendly debate! Please click Flag to alert us of a comment that may be abusive or threatening. Read our full comment policy here.
Comments Powered by Disqus