Pope phones Argentine shoemaker for
shoe repairs
Vatican City, Apr 18, 2013 / 01:02
pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis, who has quickly
become known for his austere style, will continue using his simple black shoes
and has called his shoemaker from his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina to
repair them.
For
40 years, 81 year-old Carlos Samaria has provided shoes from his store on the
outskirts of the Argentine capital for Pope Francis, who was known before his
election to the papacy as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.
“Hello Samaria, it’s Bergoglio,” the
phone conversation began.
“But who is this?” the shoemaker
responded with surprise.
“Samaria, it's Francis, the Pope!”
the Holy Father replied.
According to Vatican Radio’s
Brazilian program, the Holy Father told Samaria, “No red shoes, make them black
like usual.”
Samaria said the shoes Pope Francis
wears “are simple and made of black leather, with a smooth toe and no
decorations.
“If you were to grab one of the
Pope’s shoes it would feel like a clog, without any adornment but with laces,”
the shoemaker explained.
“He doesn’t want new shoes, only
that I fix his old ones,” Samaria said.
However, he added that he is planning to “make a new but
simple pair to be ready for him when he says I can visit, in May.”
