Man Behind 'Pope Chair' Idea: 'I Don't Believe I Even Did It'
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Inmates from Philadelphia prisons are finishing the work on a special chair to be presented to Pope Francis when he visits Curran-Fromhold next month.
"As the process developed, so did the design," says Anthony Newman -- assistant Director of PHILACOR.
He designed what he calls a "Bishop's Throne" for Pope Francis after studying his likes, dislikes and personality -- choosing each element with the Pontiff in mind.
"He's a humble individual and we wasn't trying to do anything fancy that would set him off," says Newman. "We were trying to keep it plain and simple."
The chair is nearly six feet tall and is made of American Walnut, the same type of wood used when a Philadelphia firm created a chair for Pope Benedict. There's also an engraved headpiece with a scripture from St. Matthew, as well as "Pope crosses" on each side of the back of the chair, a point that gives Newman heartburn.
"He uses a fold over cross or bent cross that shows his humility," he says. "I am hoping this is acceptable to him."
Listen to the full interview with Anthony Newman in this CBS Philly podcast (trt: 5:11)...
Ten inmates are helping Newman construct the chair.
"Doing this chair should encourage a lot of them that they can be better than they were before," he says.
And while Newman hopes he is invited to meet the Pope, his true hope:
"I hope he likes it."