…but the pope certainly does not. At least, that’s what the Vatican says in this AP piece.

“Such rumors are inconsistent with the simple and somber man who, on the day of his election to the papacy, showed to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square and to the whole world the sleeves of a modest black sweater,” says the Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

The pope’s interest in clothes has nothing to do with fashion and everything to do with liturgy – the symbolism behind the duds, according to the Vatican. David Gibson did a great piece for us on papal vestments back in April.

“The pope, therefore, does not wear Prada, but Christ,” L’Osservatore said.

Hmmm, yes, but he also wears fancy hats, and mideval vestments, and really, really red shoes.

In fact, as Benedict bound down the stairs to greet President Bush at Andrews Air Force Base in April, I couldn’t take my eyes of his rose-red shoes. The man would’ve done Judy Garland proud.