Robert Benchley first came to attention on Broadway by performing a bit called "The Treasurer's Report," which started out with him saying, "First, I would like to remind everyone that it was never my idea to be the treasurer in the first place."
I say that just to remind one and all that I am not a Roman Catholic, although I am going to comment on the shoe choices of the recently departed Pope Francis.
His predecessor, Benedict XVI, went in for the fancy outfits, most notably red shoes. I know you aren't supposed to wear white shoes after Labor Day, but when are red ones ok for a man who is not an outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels?
As the Washington Post said about the fondly-remembered Francis, his vision for the church was “less beholden to its own hierarchy,” meaning he wasn't afraid to change thing up.
Stories abound of him driving himself around Rome in a Ford Focus, buying his own eyeglasses, bunking in a Vatican City guesthouse, rather than a deluxe apartment he might have occupied.
Eschewing (eshoeing?) the flashy red pumps for serviceable black dress shoes was a good move to me, someone who has no say in the matter and yet butts in on everything under the sun.
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| Simple black rubber-soled Oxfords. |
I mean, he couldn't very well go around in Weejuns (too informal) or Rockports (too casual) but the papal kicks look fine to me. The man was trying to reach the people with the message from God, not dazzle them with his footwear.
Indeed, whenever I saw the Pope on television, he seemed no more duded up than any local parish priest, and maybe that was the plan - not to try to be flashy, just to be a regular servant of God.
Filippo Sorcinelli, the Italian designer who put together his official wardrobe, said that Francis wanted to present a “noble simplicity.”
He was simple and humble, as all leaders should be. If you know what I mean.
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