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Red Shoes are supposed to be made from the skin of children used in their ceremonies. As a “member of the cult” it is a sign of devotion, even the pope has a pair

Look into it, this is bigger than a breadbox, which has a lot of crumbs from stale bread

Follow the trail

Red Shoes are supposed to be made from the skin of children used in their ceremonies. As a “member of the cult” it is a sign of devotion, even the pope has a pair

I'd never heard that before, it's sounds so weird, but instantly this old song from 1977 popped into my head. It's a b-side single from Elvis Costello's breakthrough album.

(Angels want to wear my) Red Shoes
Oh I used to be disgusted
and now I try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain,
that's when I knew that I could not refuse.
And I won't get any older, now the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
I was watching while you're dancing away.
Our love got fractured in the echo and sway.
How come everybody wants to be your friend?
You know that it still hurts me just to say it.
Oh, I know that she's disgusted (oh why's that)
Cause she's feeling so abused. (oh that's too bad)
She gets tired of the lust, (oh I'm so sad)
but it's so hard to refuse.
How can you say that I'm too old,
when the angels have stolen my red shoes.
Oh, I said "I'm so happy, I could die."
She said "Drop dead," then left with another guy.
That's what you get if you go chasing after vengeance.
Ever since you got me punctured this has been my sentence.
Oh I used to be disgusted
and now I try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
Creepy. Very very creepy!

Red Shoes are supposed to be made from the skin of children used in their ceremonies. As a “member of the cult” it is a sign of devotion, even the pope has a pair.

The red shoes that the pope traditionally wears (Francis hates tradition, so he doesn't wear them) are meant to signify that the Church is built on the blood of martyrs. It's supposed to be as if he's been standing in a street running with the blood of the martyrs and has gotten his feet wet with it. Every time he looks down and sees his shoes, he's supposed to be reminded of that and be humbled by it.

Wikipedia has the following extra details:

Throughout Church history, the color red has been deliberately chosen to represent the blood of Catholic martyrs spilt through the centuries following in the footsteps of Christ. The red papal shoes are also linked to Christ’s own bloodied feet as he was prodded, whipped, and pushed along the Via Dolorosa on his way to his crucifixion, culminating in the piercing of his hands and feet on the cross. The red shoes also symbolize the submission of the Pope to the ultimate authority of Jesus Christ. Beyond this, it is said the red papal shoes also signify God’s burning love for humanity as exhibited during Pentecost when red vestments are worn to commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles as tongues of fire rest upon their heads.