“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use [crochet].” –St. Francis of Assisi (sort of)*
This is a crochet tribute to Pope Francis. I began this design seven years ago and thought it would be a fitting memorial to share it with you all for free.
Pope Francis has meant a great deal to so many people, religious and otherwise. He was a good dude who did his best to live humbly and share God’s love with the world. He was the first pope to take the name of St. Francis and emulate the saint’s life of poverty and service. For me, Pope Francis helped me feel God’s love in the midst of severe religious OCD, and his message of compassion and inclusion gives me hope for the future of the Catholic church. He will be very much missed.
(The real quote ends with “when necessary, use words.” And I think that’s exactly what Pope Francis did.)
I hope that crocheting a Pocket Pope will bring you comfort and make you smile like it did for me, and I like to think it would amuse Pope Francis too.
I learned a lot of new terms when researching the pope’s clothes. This was an interesting article. And here are some fun pictures of the pope’s wardrobe malfunctions.
Skill Level: Easy
Finished Size: Approximately 6” tall
Materials:
- Worsted-weight (category 4) acrylic yarn in white (robes), cream (or desired skin tone), gray (hair), and black (shoes). I tend to use either Red Heart Super Saver or I Love This Yarn for my amigurumi.
- G (4.00mm) crochet hook
- 9mm plastic safety eyes
- Materials to embroider smile
- Small amount of fiberfill stuffing
- A small cross or crucifix charm for his necklace and a chain to put it on (could use thread/cord)
- Optional: Floral wire or pipe cleaners to make the arms poseable
Gauge:
Rounds 1-3 of Head measure 1.25” (3 cm) in diameter.
Gauge is unimportant for this project as long as you are happy with the quality of your fabric and no stuffing shows through the stitches. I crochet tightly, so to achieve the same gauge that I did, you may wish to go down one or two hook sizes.
Stitches and Terminology:
I use US crochet terms.
Sc inc = make 2 sc in the same st.
Pattern is worked amigurumi-style in unjoined rounds. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round to keep your place.
The number in [brackets] at the end of the round shows how many stitches you should have.
Due to the wire arms and safety eyes, pope is not suitable for small children. If you wish to make a pope for your kids, omit the wire and embroider the eyes.
A magic ring is used to start each piece. Alternatively, you may substitute (ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from hook) if that’s easier for you.
Head:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. [6]
Rnd 2: Sc inc in each st around. [12]
Rnd 3: *Sc 1, sc inc* around. [18]
Rnd 4: *Sc 2, sc inc* around. [24]
Rnd 5-9 (5 rounds): Sc around. [24]
Rnd 10: *Sc 2, sc2tog* around. [18]
Rnd 11: *Sc 1, sc2tog* around. [12]
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Insert eyes between Rnd 6 and 7 approximately 6 stitches apart. Embroider smile.
Arms:
Make 2 in skin color and cassock color. Feel free to remove a round from the Arms if they look too long to you.
Rnd 1: With skin color, 6 sc in a magic ring.
Rnd 2: Sc around. Change to white at end of round.
Rnd 3-10 (8 rounds): Sc around.
Sl st to next sc and fasten off. If desired, place wire inside to make Arms poseable.
Body:
Make 1 in white (this is the color of the cassock the pope wears). The arms are crocheted into the body during Rnd 5 and 6, so make sure to have them nearby.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. [6]
Rnd 2: Sc inc in each st around. [12]
Rnd 3: Working through back loops only, *sc 1, sc inc* around. [18]
Rnd 4: *Sc 5, sc inc* 3 times. [21]
Rnd 5: Sc inc in first st, sc 2. Join 3 stitches of Arm to next 3 stitches on Body as follows: *insert hook from inside to outside through a stitch on the arm, then insert hook through next stitch on Body, and complete sc as normal.* Repeat from * to * for next 2 sc. Work sc as normal in next 8 sc of Body. Join 3 stitches of second Arm to next 3 stitches on Body by repeating from * to * 3 times total. Sc as normal in the last 4 sc of body. You have completed the first half of joining the arms. [22]
Rnd 6: Sc 4. The remaining remaining 3 sts of first Arm should line up nicely with the next 3 sts of Body. For your next 3 sc, make them through both layers. Then sc as normal in the next 8 sc of body. Join the second Arm in the same way. Then sc as normal in the last 4 sc of body. Arms have been joined. [22]
Here are several in-progress photos from the arm joining.
Rnd 7-8 (2 rounds): Sc around. [22]
Rnd 9: Sc 6, sc inc, sc 10, sc inc, sc 4. [24]
Rnd 10-13 (4 rounds): Sc around. [24]
Rnd 14: *Sc 5, sc inc* 4 times. [28]
Rnd 15-18 (4 rounds): Sc around. [28]
Rnd 19: Sc around in front loops only, join round.
Rnd 20-21: Ch 1, sc around, sl st to first sc to join.
At the end of Rnd 21, omit the joining sl st and instead fasten off and invisible join. Weave in end.
Body Base:
Make 1 in white.
Rnd 1: 7 sc in a magic ring. [7]
Rnd 2: Sc inc in each st around. [14]
Rnd 3: *Sc 1, sc inc* around. [21]
Rnd 4: *Sc 2, sc inc* around. [28]
Sl st to next sc and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Stuff Pope Body. Sew Base to the bottom of the Body in the unused back loops from Rnd 19.
Zucchetto (Hat):
Rnd 1: With white, 6 sc in a magic ring. [6]
Rnd 2: Sc inc in each st around. [12]
Rnd 3: *sc 1, sc inc* around. [18]
Rnd 4: *sc 2, sc inc* around. [24]
Rnd 5-6 (2 rounds): Sc around. [24]
At the end of Rnd 6, cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing, and invisible join.
Hair: Working in back loops of Rnd 5 of Hat, join gray yarn into any stitch and ch 1. Sc 2, hdc 1, 2dc in same st, dc 2, 2dc in same st, dc 2, hdc 1, sc 2, sl st in next st.
Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing. Sew to Head.
Pellegrina (Cape):
Make 1 in white.
Note: Turning ch does not count as a stitch. I use the stacked single crochet for the first dc of each row to create smoother edges.
Row 1: Ch 21. Sc in 2nd ch from hk and in each ch across. [20]
Row 2 (RS): Working in back loops only, ch 2, turn, dc inc in first st. *Dc 2, dc inc* across, leaving last st unworked. On last dc inc, make the second half of the increase through both loops of the stitch.
Row 3: Ch 2, turn, dc in first 2 st. *Dc 3, dc inc* across until 3 st remain, dc 3.
Row 4: Ch 2, turn, dc across.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Place around Pope’s neck and sew the front of the collar together, then tack down around the neck area. The bottom should be left to fly free and allow your Pope to impersonate a frilled lizard.
Stole:
Make 1 in white.
For the part that goes around the waist, ch 25, sc 24, starting in 2nd ch from hk. Fasten off and leave long tail for sewing.
For the hanging piece, ch 21, sc 20, starting in 2nd ch from hk. Fasten off and leave long tail for sewing.
Sew the waist piece onto Body around Round 9 in the body, with the RS facing out and the chain side up. As you get to the front, thread the hanging piece of the stole through the waist piece and sew that down along the “skirt” area of the robe.
Shoes:
Make 2 in black for Pope Francis, red for Pope Benedict.
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, ch 3. Sc in 2nd ch from hk and in next st, 3 sc in magic ring. Sc in chain on opposite side, 2sc in last ch. [8]
Rnd 2: Sc in each st around. [8]
Sl st to next sc and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew to bottom front of Body.
Finishing:
Sew Head to Body through the unused front loops of Rnd 3 on the Body. Make sure the face is pointing in the correct direction.
Give your Pope a cute little crucifix necklace.
Accessorize how you see fit!
The closest I’ll ever get to meeting Pope Francis in this life. Thank you for being a role model to me and many and for sharing God’s love with the world. As you often said, “Don’t forget to pray for me!” We could use it.