Camauro
Encyclopedia
A camauro is a cap traditionally worn by the Pope
of the Catholic Church.
Papal camauros are of red wool or velvet with white ermine trim and are worn, usually in winter, in place of the zucchetto
, which in turn takes the place of the biretta
worn by other members of the clergy. Like the biretta
worn by lower clergy and the mortarboard worn by academics
, the camauro derives from the academic cap (the pileus
), originally worn to protect tonsure
d clerical
heads from the cold. It is often worn with a shoulder winter cloak (mozzetta
), also sometimes fur-lined.
The camauro has been part of the papal wardrobe since the 12th century. Until 1464, it was also worn by cardinal
s, without the ermine trim; from that date, the camauro became exclusively a papal garment and cardinals wore the scarlet biretta
instead. The papal camauro fell into disuse after the death of Pope John XXIII
in 1963, but it was revived in December 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI
. Benedict's wearing the hat prompted comparisons to Santa Claus
and Father Christmas
in the media; St. Nicholas Thaumaturgos, who became the legendary Santa Claus, was bishop
of Myra
.
A camauro was also part of the headdress of the Doge of Venice
, worn under the corno ducale or stiff peaked cap. Every Easter Monday the doge headed a procession from San Marco to the convent of San Zaccaria where the abbess presented him a new linen
camauro crafted by the nuns.
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
of the Catholic Church.
Papal camauros are of red wool or velvet with white ermine trim and are worn, usually in winter, in place of the zucchetto
Zucchetto
The zucchetto , a/k/a pileolus in Latin and calotte/calotta in France, Italy and Hispanic nations, is a small skullcap worn by clerics of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in Anglicanism....
, which in turn takes the place of the biretta
Biretta
The biretta is a square cap with three or four peaks or horns, sometimes surmounted by a tuft. Traditionally the three peaked biretta is worn by Roman Catholic clergy and some Anglican and Lutheran clergy. The four peaked biretta is worn as academic dress by those holding a doctoral degree from a...
worn by other members of the clergy. Like the biretta
Biretta
The biretta is a square cap with three or four peaks or horns, sometimes surmounted by a tuft. Traditionally the three peaked biretta is worn by Roman Catholic clergy and some Anglican and Lutheran clergy. The four peaked biretta is worn as academic dress by those holding a doctoral degree from a...
worn by lower clergy and the mortarboard worn by academics
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, the camauro derives from the academic cap (the pileus
Pileus (hat)
The pileus — also pilleus or pilleum — was a cap worn by sailors in Ancient Greece and later copied by Ancient Rome. It was a brimless, felt cap, somewhat similar to a fez...
), originally worn to protect tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
d clerical
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
heads from the cold. It is often worn with a shoulder winter cloak (mozzetta
Mozzetta
The mozzetta is a short elbow-length cape that covers the shoulders and is buttoned over the breast. It is worn over the rochet or cotta as part of choir dress by some of the clergy of the Catholic Church, among them the Pope, cardinals, bishops, abbots, canons and religious superiors...
), also sometimes fur-lined.
The camauro has been part of the papal wardrobe since the 12th century. Until 1464, it was also worn by cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
s, without the ermine trim; from that date, the camauro became exclusively a papal garment and cardinals wore the scarlet biretta
Biretta
The biretta is a square cap with three or four peaks or horns, sometimes surmounted by a tuft. Traditionally the three peaked biretta is worn by Roman Catholic clergy and some Anglican and Lutheran clergy. The four peaked biretta is worn as academic dress by those holding a doctoral degree from a...
instead. The papal camauro fell into disuse after the death of Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
in 1963, but it was revived in December 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. Benedict's wearing the hat prompted comparisons to Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
and Father Christmas
Father Christmas
Father Christmas is the name used in many English-speaking countries for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name exists in several other countries, including France , Spain , Brazil , Portugal , Italy , Armenia , India...
in the media; St. Nicholas Thaumaturgos, who became the legendary Santa Claus, was bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Myra
Myra
Myra is an ancient town in Lycia, where the small town of Kale is situated today in present day Antalya Province of Turkey. It was located on the river Myros , in the fertile alluvial plain between Alaca Dağ, the Massikytos range and the Aegean Sea.- Historical evidence :Although some scholars...
.
A camauro was also part of the headdress of the Doge of Venice
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
, worn under the corno ducale or stiff peaked cap. Every Easter Monday the doge headed a procession from San Marco to the convent of San Zaccaria where the abbess presented him a new linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
camauro crafted by the nuns.
Sources and references
- About the camauro
- The Philippi CollectionThe Philippi CollectionThe Philippi Collection is a collection of clerical, religious and spiritual headdresses.- The Collection :The Philippi Collection is a private collection assembled by the entrepreneur Dieter Philippi, CEO of a German telecommunication distributor, located in Kirkel...
- About the skull cap
- 'Santa Pope' woos Vatican crowds (BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, 22 December 2005)) - History of the Skullcap (PDF, p.21-22)
- Various popes wearing the camauro on a church watching blog
- Pictures of Camauro and other clerical headgear, information and literature in German language
- Picture with summer-camauro in amaranth red silk, white camauro in silk-damask worn during the Octave of Easter and winter-camauro in red velvet
