The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-01-12
ROBES AND VESTMENTS WORN
BY THE POPE.

Papal robes vary with the occa
sion. In his private life and when
giving audiences the Pope's dress is
as follows: He wears shoes of leather
or cloth in winter, and of silk or
satin in summer; they are always of
red color and are fastened with red
strings and golden tags. On them is
embroidered in gold a Cross. The
simara, or cassock, has no train, but
is finished with over-sleeves and tip
pet; it is always of white material
cloth or merino-with white silk
trimmings. A white silk stock and
linen collar, white skull-cap and
ring on the ring finger of the right
hand complete the ordinary private
dress, writes Rev. Ethelred L. Taun-
ton in the Catholic Press of Australia.
The Papal color is always white,
and typifies innocence of life, chastity
and brilliance of virtue. 1t reminds
one, too, of the message to the Angel
of the Church of Sardis: "They shall
walk with Me in white because they
are worthy. He that shall overcome
shall be thus clothed in white gar
ments; and I will not blot his name
out of the Book of Life, and I will
confess his name before My Father,
and before His Angels
Pontiff Out of Doors.
When the Pontiff goes out of doors
he puts on pectoral cross and chain
and girds his cassock with cincture
of white watered silk fringed with
gold. During the cold weather., the
Pope uses large red mantle, very
full in size, of flannel or cloth, and
trimmed with red silk and braided
with gold. In the winter he also uses
peculiar style of headgear called
the camauro. 1t is a kind of large
and deep skull-cap which comes over
the ears, and is made of red velvet,
trimmed with ermine. If it is used
in the summer, it is of silk.
When the Pontiff receives in sol
emn audience, kings, ambassadors or
such like or when he presides at con-
gregations or assists in the Sistine
chapel, his slippers are of red velvet
in winter, satin in summer and me-
rino on days of penitence and mourn
ing; his cassock is of MORE in win
ter, of light silk in summer, or of
cloth or merino according to season
during penitent times. Over the cas-
sock, which is trained, he wears the
rochet, which is crinkled in the pecu-
liar Roman fashion by the nuns of
the Child Jesus, who have care of
the Pope's linen. Over the lace-trim-
med rochet is worn the mozetta, or
short cape, which is always red and
of velvet, satin or merino, accord
ing to the times. 1t is bordered with
ermine. To this costume on occasions
of ceremony-for instance, when the
Pope, preceded by the Papal cross,
goes to ST. Peters or visits churches
or kings-there is added a red stole
of velvet or satin, thickly embroid-
cred with gold, and bearing the Papal
coat-of-arms at the height of chest.
At Consistory.
At consistory, to the foregoing
costume is added a peculiar Papal
robe, the falda, which is a very wide
and full white skirt with long train.
It is fastened round the waist and is
so large that it has to be held up by
| attendants. 1t is a majestic robe, and
adds considerably to the dignity and
stature of the Pontiff. 1t dates from
the days of Julius II, and came in at
a time when cassocks were not made
II VIII troll Th0To ic a 81 ,fo1o
called the consistorial stole, which is
| used on these occasions.
/ During the Octave of Easter-that
is from after the Office of Holy Sat
urday until after Vespers on the fol
lowing Saturday-the Papal robes are
all white.
4 At what are known as Papal chap
els that is, where the Pope assists
at a ceremony in solemn state-he is
vested like Bishop, with certain pc
lculiarities; his girdle is of white silk
with bullion tassels; the stole is one
of three co1ors-red, white or violet;
his cope is larger than usual and has
a long train which is carried by the
Prince Assistant at the Throne. This
cope, which is embroidered in gold
| is either of red or white. Il. is of the
same dimensions as the falda and is
| fastened by a morse of gold and pre-
cious stones called the formale pre-
tiosum. Three mitres are borne be
fore him on cushions-the precious
mitre adorned with stones, the cloth
OF gold mitre, and the cloth of silver
mitre.
Tiaras and Mitres.
i Since the days of Plus VI the pre-
Icions mitre has been used only once
| (by Plus Ky, and that was at the
procession at the opening of the Vati
can Council. The tiara is worn only
in professions and never during :
| function when the mitre, gold or sill