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The Pope wearing the white mozetta or shoulder cape.
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
wearing the simple white cassock without the white mozetta.
It was announced today,
that after his retirement
the Holy Father will wear a simple white cassock
without the mozetta (the shoulder cape).
He will not wear the red papal shoes.
His official address will be:
"His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus"
or
"His Holiness Benedict XVI Pontiff Emeritus"
not "Bishop Ereritus of Rome".
4 comments:
How interesting to watch some of Catholic history being made right before our eyes!
The white shoulder cape over what looks like a cassock is not a mozetta. For that matter, the cassock isn't really a cassock.
The robe with shoulder cape and oversleeves is called a SIMAR or house cassock. It is not worn with liturgical vesture.
Dear Jack
You must be right! But in plain language it has officially been called a cassock and mozzetta by the Vatican Information Service of the Holy See. Here is the text:
Vatican City, 26 February 2013 (VIS) – Benedict XVI will be “Pontiff emeritus” or “Pope emeritus”, as Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, reported in a press conference on the final days of the current pontificate. He will keep the name of “His Holiness, Benedict XVI” and will dress in a simple white cassock without the mozzetta (elbow-length cape).
I don't think too many technical terms really help. The basic message is correct. People could study these matters and send their corrections to the Vatican Information Service.
Personally I'm fine with the Vatican Information Service, and since they don't supply photos to help carry their message I am pleased that they used cassock and not SIMAR: it would have been a lost message outside the grasp of most.
I wonder if they are referring to the "mozzetta" which is part of the choir dress of a bishop. The current Holy Father wears three different types, silk in the warm months, velvet in the winter and white in the Easter Season. As these are certainly only worn by the Holy Father it makes sense that he would no longer use them. In addition, retired Bishops and Cardinals still make use of the "Simar" so I am confused why the Holy Father would decided not to use it himself. Of course he is free to do as he pleases. I just wonder if something got lost in the translation from the Vatican Press Office document.
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