What do you notice that's different between this meeting with the pope…
…and this one?
You may notice that the pope isn't dressed the same in both meetings. That’s because the pope often receives different heads of state wearing vestments that go beyond the simple white cassock.
RAMÓN NAVARRO
Director, Episcopal Commission for the Liturgy (CEE)
He wears the white cassock as his daily attire, but on solemn occasions, he puts on the choir habit. The choir habit is used by the Pope, bishops, and also canons.
This is how he dresses for solemn, non-liturgical occasions, not when meeting heads of state. For example, he wore it when taking possession of his cathedral at St. John Lateran.
Several elements make up the choir habit. Over the cassock, he wears the rochet, a type of short tunic. Over that goes the mozzetta, a kind of shoulder cape, and finally the stole. All of it is in red.
RAMÓN NAVARRO
Director, Episcopal Commission for the Liturgy (CEE)
We do know the origin of the red color. It refers to the martyrs, to the blood that has been shed. The Pope gives his life for the Church—that is essentially his ministry. That’s also why cardinals wear red, because they are closely united to the Pope’s ministry.
However, there are two weeks in the year when, officially and from a liturgical standpoint, red is replaced with white: during the Octave of Easter and the Octave of Christmas.
Proof of this can be seen in these images, where we see Pope Benedict XVI wearing the white mozzetta. Pope John XXIII and Pope Pius XII also wore it. However, Pope Saint John Paul II always chose the red version. Pope Francis never worn this vestment.
AM
Trans. CRT
