CAMAURO

No…. this is not Benedict XVI sporting a seasonal Santa Hat. This is it, the real thing, the camauro of yesteryear. Nor is this one-up-manship on the part of a Pope competing with some kids at the audience of 14 December, last. I don’t think it has been used since the time of Blessed Pope XXIII. I bet Archbishop, Piero Marini is thrilled. My prediction is that, one day, His Holiness Benedict will revive the fanon, worn only once at the roman Basilica of Saint Cecilia by John Paul II (interesting story behind that which I will one day tell). The fanon is a type of stripped mozetta, used only by the Roman Pontiff for celebrations of Mass. It is worn over the chasuble and under the pallium. Alas, I suppose he won’t bring back the tiara or flabella. Maybe… maybe… in his declining yers, the sedia gestatoria.