VATICAN, Italy – The Pope’s attire, known as papal regalia, signifies his role as head of the Catholic Church. This includes a white cassock, symbolising innocence and charity.
Beneath the cassock, he wears a white vestment, and externally, red symbolises compassion. While the Pope’s cassock is always white, the colours worn by other clergy can vary.
Against this background, we look at the hidden meaning behind the pope’s clothes.
Pope Francis’ vestments were similar to a priest’s formal vestments with a few special additions and elements that are reserved for the pope exclusively.
While celebrating the sacraments, the pope wears a distinctive MITRE—a tall, folding cap with two tails hanging from the back.
The Papal Ring
It is also known as the Ring of the Fisherman, or the Piscatory Ring, symbolising the pope as the successor of St. Peter, who was a fisherman by trade. Each pope has a unique ring, which is ceremoniously destroyed when the pope dies or leaves office.
Pope’s wearing of the Pectoral Cross
(Hidden from view) hung around their neck. Pope Francis chose a simple silver cross with the image of Christ, a gift he received as a bishop in Argentina.
The ALB
This is the liturgical vestment worn by all priests for Mass. It symbolises the innocence and purity that should adorn the soul of the priest who ascends the altar.
The papal CROSIER
This is a long staff with a ball topped with a crucifix. Pope Francis often used a staff designed by the Italian artist Lello Scorzelli in 1963 and used by Pope Paul VI.
The PALLIUM,
Only the Pope may wear the PALLIUM, a wide white band decorated with six crosses and secured with three golden pins symbolising the nails with which Christ was crucified. It is also woven from lamb’s wool to symbolise the shepherd who carries sheep over his shoulder.
The CHASUBLE
This is the poncho-like vestment used by priests celebrating Mass. The colour is determined by the liturgical calendar and can be white, red, green, or violet.
The PAPAL Slippers
These are traditionally coloured red to symbolise the blood of the martyrs, but Pope Francis preferred black shoes.
The Papal Crest
The crest is also the main feature of the Vatican flag and consists of a pair of crossed keys – one gold, one silver – topped by the papal tiara. The two keys symbolically represent the power to bind and loose on earth (silver) and in heaven (gold), as in Matthew 16:18-19.
Pope Francis’ Coat of Arms
Pope Francis chose a coat of arms containing the insignia of the Society of Jesus, his priestly order, the star of Mary, and the spikenard, a symbol of St. Joseph. Pope Francis was the second pope (following Pope Benedict XVI) to have dispensed with the papal tiara over his coat of arms, and instead he went with a papal miter above the shield.
