Papal shoes

They are distinct from the indoor papal slippers or the Episcopal sandals, which are the liturgical footwear proper to all ordained Catholic bishops of the Latin Church.

[citation needed] Throughout Church history, the color red has been deliberately chosen to represent the blood of Catholic martyrs spilled through the centuries following in the footsteps of Christ.

The Papal outdoor shoes were made of plain red Morocco leather and had a wide cross in gold braid.

Pope Paul VI eliminated the gold cross and completely discontinued the custom of kissing the papal foot.

Pope Benedict XVI restored the use of the red papal shoes, which were provided by his personal cobbler, Adriano Stefanelli of Novara.

Papal shoes of Pope Pius VII (1808)
Pope Benedict XVI wearing the red leather Papal shoes
A set of red loafers , manufactured by papal shoemaker Adriano Stefanelli, Novara, worn by Pope Benedict XVI. The Philippi Collection .
Shoes worn by Pope Benedict XV at the Bata Shoe Museum