Papal Seals

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The seals used by the papacy were always different, like other aspects of their documents. Papal seals were made not of sealing wax, but of lead, and were attached to the bottom of the document with cords. The seal was known as a bulla, which lead to official papal documents being called papal bulls. These documents came in various grades of importance, signified by aspects of the diplomatic, by the elaboration of the calligraphy, and by the means of attaching the seals. The most important documents had the seals attached with silk cords, while documents of lesser significance had them attached with hemp cords. Papal documents overflowed with visual symbolism.

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