THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF THE PAPAL RING

Pope Benedict XVI wearing the Signet Ring of the Fisherman and the Fine Linen vestment with the Golden Chains on his neck showing his authority as the Universal Pastor of the Church.

I've been asked by a friend in Facebook concernign the Biblical Foundation of the PAPAL RING. How come the Pope is wearing a special ring? What does it mean?

THE POPE WEARS A RING AS A SYMBOL OF HIS AUTHORITY TO GOVERN THE CHURCH. ALSO, FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSE IT IS HIS OFFICIAL ZEAL, THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED "THE SIGNET RING".

IS IT BIBLICAL? 

OF COURSE IT IS BIBLICAL. THAT IS TAKEN FROM THE SIGNET RING OF JOSEPH THE DREAMER THE MOST SPECIAL OF THE PATRIARCHS OF ISRAEL WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE KING OF EGYPT AS ROYAL STEWARD OF THE ROYAL HOUSE AND OF THE ENTIRE PEOPLE OF THE KINGDOM. AND BY DOING SO THE KING GAVE JOSEPH THE SIGNET RING. 

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US CATHOLICS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT IS A PREPARATION FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THAT THE FIGURE OF THE BENEVOLENT KING OF EGYPT IS A 'PREFIGURATION' OF THE LORD JESUS - THE TRUE AND GREATEST KING OF ALL. WHILE JOSEPH PREFIGURES ST. PETER WHO WAS GIVEN SPECIAL AUTHORITY TO BIND AND TO LOOSE [MATTHEW 16:18-19]. AS JOSEPH GOVERNED EGYPT ON BEHALF OF THE KING ST. PETER GOVERNED THE CHURCH ON BEHALF OF THE KING OF KINGS.

LET US TAKE A LOOK AT THE SACRED SCRIPTURE:

From King James Version [KJV]:

Gen 41:39  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 

THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT JESUS TOLD ST. PETER THAT HE WAS GIVEN SPECIAL GRACE OF GOD THE FATHER TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF FAITH - THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD [cf. Matthew 16:17].  BOTH ST. PETER AND JOSEPH THE DREAMER RECEIVED SPECIAL REVELATION FROM GOD THAT OTHERS COULD NOT GIVE CORRECTLY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT GIVEN SUCH BLESSING FROM THE ALMIGHTY.

Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 

THE ONE OVER THE HOUSE OR THE MAJORDOMO OR THE STEWARD OF THE PALACE OR IN MODERN TERM 'THE PRIME MINISTER' IS DISTINGUISHED IN THE KINGDOM OF DAVID AS THE KEEPER OF THE KEY. THE ONE WHO REPLACED SHEBNA AS THE ONE 'OVER THE HOUSE' OF THE KING IS GIVEN CHARGE OF THE KEYS OF THE PALACE:

Is 22:22  And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

INDEED, NO ONE EXCEPT THE KING COULD BREAK THE DECISIONS OF JOSEPH THE DREAMER AND THE DECISIONS OF PETER FOR THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH.

Gen 41:41  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
 

THE AUTHORITY OF THE PRIME MINISTER IS EFFICACIOUS TO THE ENTIRE REALM OF THE KING, OVER THE ENTIRE TERRITORIES AND THE EMPIRE. SINCE THE ONE WHO GAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ST. PETER IS THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE THEN THE AUTHORITY OF ST. PETER IS EFFECTIVE IN THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH. AND SINCE JESUS IS THE KING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH SO THEN THE POWER OF PETER IS EFFECTIVE IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH [cf. Matthew 16:19].

Gen 41:42  And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 

The beloved Pope Paul VI, of Blessed Memory, - the Champion of Life - also dressed in fine linen, with the signet ring and a pectoral.

SO, THE POPE AFTER RECIEVING HIS ELECTION HE IS VESTED WITH FINE LINE CLOTH IN BEAUTIFUL WHITE AND DURING HIS INSTALLATION HE IS GIVEN THE RING AND A GOLDEN PECTORAL ON HIS NECK. IT IS ALSO PROPHESIED FOR THE KEEPER OF THE KEY OF DAVID:

Is 22:21  And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand

THE USE OF CHAINS OF GOLD ON THE NECK OF THE MINISTER OF GOD IS ALSO BIBLICAL:

Ex 28:23-24  And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.

IN TAGALOG IT IS TRANSLATED:

Ex 28:23-24  [Ang Biblia] At igagawa mo ang ibabaw ng pektoral ng dalawang singsing na ginto, at ilalagay mo ang dalawang singsing sa dalawang sulok ng itaas ng pektoral. At inyong ilalagay ang dalawang pinising tanikalang ginto sa dalawang singsing sa mga sulok ng pektoral.

THAT IS THE REASON WHY OUR TERM FOR THE CHAINS OF GOLD IN THE NECK OF THE POPE IS 'PECTORAL'... THE PECTORAL CROSS.

Gen 41:43  And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

SEE, JOSEPH THE DREAMER - THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE KING OF EGYPT WAS DECLARED WORTHY TO BE BOWED DOWN AS AN HONOR FOR BEING MADE THE RULER OVER ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT. SO WE CATHOLICS ALSO 'BOWS DOWN' WITH ONE KNEE BOW HE HE HE BEFORE THE ONE GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO GOVERN THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AS REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST.

ALSO, JOSEPH THE DREAMER WAS GIVEN SPECIAL CHARIOT. SO WHEN THE POPE HAS DIFFICULTY WALKING WE CARRIED HIM IN SPECIAL CHARIOT AND SINCE NOW IS ALREADY MODERN WE USE A SPECIAL RIDE CALLED "POPEMOBILE". HE HE HE...

The same thing for Blessed Pope John Paul the Great

 LET US TAKE A LOOK ONCE AGAIN ON THE RING AT THE Revised Standard Version [RSV]:

Gen 41:42  Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

THE ROYAL STEWARD IS GIVEN A 'SIGNET RING'. THAT IS THE RING THAT IS BEING USED AS A SEAL OF AUTHORITY. THE POPE CARRIES A SIGNET RING AS A SIGN OF AUTHORITY AS THE UNIVERSAL PASTOR OF THE CHURCH.