Rome’s Vatican Shoemaker Crafts Footwear for Popes (Full Transcript)

Name: Rome’s Vatican Shoemaker Crafts Footwear for Popes
Uploaded: 2026-01-11T11:07:15+00:00
Channel: GoTranscript
Description: Near the Vatican, Peruvian cobbler Antonio Arellano handcrafts bespoke shoes for cardinals and popes, taking six weeks per pair and lasting decades.

Near the Vatican, Peruvian cobbler Antonio Arellano handcrafts bespoke shoes for cardinals and popes, taking six weeks per pair and lasting decades.

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[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Where do Popes buy their shoes? Here in the heart of Rome, a stone throw from the Vatican, is a very special shoemaker. Grazie, Antonio. Antonio Arolano has lived in Italy for more than 30 years, having emigrated to Rome from Peru in 1990. He's from a family of cobblers and is passing down the art of shoemaking to his son, Daniel. Over the years, he's made shoes for cardinals and popes, including the red shoes worn by Pope Benedict XVI and now for Pope Leo, who spent years as a missionary in Arellano's home country.

[00:00:38] Speaker 2: When he saw us, he was like, oh, Arellano, finally I get to know Arellano.

[00:01:03] Speaker 3: We were surprised. He knew us by name, maybe by way of speaking. He spoke to us in Spanish. He said, I carry Peru in my heart.

[00:01:16] Speaker 1: A pair of handcrafted shoes from the Arellano store takes a month and a half to make.

[00:01:21] Speaker 3: Yes, yes, the shoes we make will last at least 20 years. It is made with care, every little detail, from the leather, which must be a resistant leather, but comfortable, to the sole, and then it is always made according to the client's request.

Summary

A reporter visits a renowned shoemaker near the Vatican: Antonio Arellano, a Peruvian émigré and lifelong cobbler who has crafted shoes for cardinals and popes, including Pope Benedict XVI’s red shoes and footwear for Pope Leo, who has ties to Peru. Arellano, training his son Daniel in the craft, explains that each handcrafted pair is made to a client’s specifications, takes about six weeks to complete, and is designed to last at least 20 years using durable yet comfortable leather and carefully constructed soles.

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Title

Peruvian Shoemaker Near the Vatican Crafts Shoes for Popes

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Keywords

Rome

Vatican

shoemaker

Antonio Arellano Remove

Peru

cobblers

handcrafted shoes Remove

Pope Benedict XVI Remove

Pope Leo

cardinals

red shoes

traditional craftsmanship Remove

leather

bespoke footwear Remove

family trade Remove

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Sentiments

Positive: The tone is warm and admiring, highlighting pride in craftsmanship, cultural connection to Peru, and the durability and care involved in making bespoke shoes for prominent religious figures.

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Quizzes

Question 1:
Where is Antonio Arellano’s shoemaking shop located?
In the heart of Rome near the Vatican
In Lima near the cathedral
In Florence near the Duomo
In Madrid near the Royal Palace
Correct Answer:
In the heart of Rome near the Vatican

Question 2:
How long does it take to make a pair of handcrafted shoes from the Arellano store?
One week
Six weeks (about a month and a half)
Three months
One day
Correct Answer:
Six weeks (about a month and a half)

Question 3:
Which pope’s red shoes are mentioned as being made by Arellano?
Pope John Paul II
Pope Francis
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Paul VI
Correct Answer:
Pope Benedict XVI

Question 4:
What does Arellano emphasize about the materials used?
They must be cheap and light
They must be resistant yet comfortable
They must be synthetic only
They must be imported from Peru
Correct Answer:
They must be resistant yet comfortable

Question 5:
How long are the shoes said to last at least?
2 years
5 years
10 years
20 years
Correct Answer:
20 years

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