On the soles of the black shoes that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was buried in, the name 'Arellano' is written.
Antonio Arellano is known as the shoemaker of the Pope emeritus. At his store near the Vatican, he welcomed Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. After his election to the papacy, Arellano made the red shoes that Benedict XVI wore during his time as pope.
ANTONIO ARELLANO
Autor, El zapatero del papa
When he was elected pope, I brought him my shoes. I brought him the first pair of shoes and he greeted me with a smile. It was very nice when he welcomed me and I always keep it engraved in my mind. He was a fantastic person.
Arellano has brought together all his memories from his time as the pope's shoemaker in his book. He recounts stories from his workshop, like the day the Pope sent him a very special package.
ANTONIO ARELLANO
Autor, El zapatero del papa
When I was 50 years old, at about 10 o'clock, I had not received any calls. And suddenly a car arrived and the Pope's assistant came down and told me, 'This is what the Pope sent you, your gift to celebrate your 50th birthday.'' It was a wonderful thing.
Arellano learned to make shoes at the age of 7 in his home country of Peru. He opened his business in Rome in 1998. Although he did not personally meet Pope John Paul II, he also had the opportunity to repair his shoes.
PA
TR: KG
