Alexis · Fondateur d'YVY Maté
We're proud to share with you an exceptional story that weaves together tradition and culture.
Recently, YVY was asked to create a personalized mate gourd for Pope Francis.
This prestigious, one-of-a-kind project let us demonstrate our craftsmanship while honoring a religious figure of great stature.
In this article, we tell the story of this special gourd and how we managed to meet the requirements of the Pope's advisers.
Who is Pope Francis?
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, is the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome. Elected in March 2013, he is the first Pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit Pope. Known for his humility, simplicity and commitment to the most deprived, Pope Francis is a fervent advocate of social justice and ecology.
A native of Argentina, Pope Francis grew up in a culture where mate is ever-present. The South American drink, often shared among friends and family, is a symbol of conviviality and solidarity.
So we weren't surprised when his advisers sought to give him a personalized mate gourd - an object both symbolic and functional. He often appears in public with a mate gourd, after all.
The gourd's creation process
The story begins when one of Pope Francis's advisers contacted our company directly.
Knowing our reputation for creating artisan mate gourds, he entrusted us with designing a unique one. Without a moment's hesitation, we set to work with our partner artisan, Cristian.
Concept and design
The first step of this prestigious project was understanding the expectations of the Pope's advisers, so we held a meeting to discuss them.
For the advisers, it was crucial that the gourd reflect not only the Argentine culture dear to Pope Francis, but also the values he champions.
They chose to include crests and flags such as the Vatican flag, the Jesuit crest and the crest of his favorite football team, San Lorenzo.
They wanted the gourd's band to bear Pope Francis's motto, "Miserando Atque Eligendo" - meaning "Chosen because forgiven".
Finally, they wanted several Saints inscribed on the mate gourd, so we opted for laser inscription directly on the leather.
The mate gourd for Pope Francis
Choice of materials
For this project, true to form, we selected materials of the very highest quality.
The gourd was made from a natural Brazilian squash, carefully selected for its durability and beauty, and crafted into an Imperiale gourd.
Of course, as with all our Imperiale gourds, Alpaca was chosen for the band, and bronze was used for the crests, flags and inscriptions upon it.
Our artisan, Cristian, poured all his know-how into crafting this mate gourd. Every step, from preparing the squash to applying the ornaments, was carried out with extreme precision and care.
The gourd's band bearing Pope Francis's motto
Delivery to the Vatican
Once finished, the gourd was carefully packed and sent to the Vatican. It was handed to him in person by a member of his entourage.
We later learned that Pope Francis was deeply touched by the work. We don't know whether it's in frequent use or sits proudly on display in one of his quarters!
Pope Francis receives his personalized gourd
The significance of the mate gourd
The mate gourd is more than a mere utilitarian object. It represents a tradition and a symbol of sharing and community. For Pope Francis, who values simplicity and human connection, this gift carries deep meaning.
Creating this mate gourd for Pope Francis was an unforgettable experience for our team. The project let us showcase our artisan know-how while honoring an emblematic figure of our time.
We're proud to have contributed, in our own way, to the Pope's daily life, and to have crafted for him, at his entourage's request, an object symbolizing both his Argentine roots and his spiritual values.
Since 2018, with our partner, we've been crafting mate gourds and personalized gourds.
We'd be delighted to guide you in creating a unique, meaningful object.
