The Pope's Camauro

Pope Benedict XVI, wearing the traditional camauro on his way to the Wednesday general audience, December 21, 2005.


The camauro is the white fur-trimmed red bonnet reserved to Popes in place of the biretta. No Pope since John XXIII (d. 1963) has used it.


The camauro, like the biretta, evolved from the academic cap of the Middle Ages. Unlike the biretta, however, it did not evolve much. The camauro in its present form was established by the twelfth century. (Source: The Camauro)



Click here and see his namesake, Pope Benedict XIV wearing the camauro.

(Images from Associated Press)

Catholic blogworld reports with delight. Read Bettnet.com's "Santa Pope" ; Curt Jester's "Ho Ho Holy See" and Relax it's Papal attire".