Ethan Walker
The Pope of the Catholic Church has traditionally worn a crown known as the Papal Tiara, which was adorned with jewels. The Tiara was worn by Popes from as early as the 8th century to the mid-20th century, with the last known usage by Pope Paul VI in 1963. The Papal Tiara evolved over time, with the addition of crowns and decorations, and its form varied from conical to bullet-shaped. While the Pope no longer regularly wears the Tiara, it remains a symbol of the papacy, and new Popes may choose to wear it during their coronation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the crown | Papal Tiara |
| History | Worn by popes of the Catholic Church from as early as the 8th century to the mid–20th century |
| Last worn by | Pope Paul VI in 1963 |
| Composition | Silver or gold with three gold diadems and two lappets |
| Jewels | Yes, but the number varied. Some tiaras had fewer jewels. |
| Weight | 10 pounds (4.5 kg) |
| Height | 16 inches (41 cm) |
| Shape | Triangular, conical, beehive, or bullet-shaped |
| Alternative names | Triple crown, triple tiara, triregno, or triregnum |
| Symbolism | The three states of the Roman Catholic Church and the three-fold office of Christ |
| Current use | The tiara is no longer worn by popes but remains a symbol of the papacy |
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What You'll Learn
Pope Paul VI was the last pope to wear a crown
The Pope's crown is called a papal tiara. It is a crown that was worn by popes of the Catholic Church from as early as the 8th century to the mid-20th century. The name tiara refers to the entire headpiece, including the various crowns, circlets, and diadems that have adorned it through the ages. The three-tiered form that it took in the 14th century is also called the triregnum or the triple crown, and sometimes the triple tiara. The first recorded papal coronation was that of Pope Nicholas I in 858.
Pope Paul VI's tiara was bullet-shaped and weighed 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). It is one of the most unusual in design and is currently on display in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
Since Pope Paul VI, none of his successors have worn a tiara. Pope Benedict XVI removed the image of the tiara from the papal coat of arms, replacing it with a bishop's mitre. In 1996, Pope John Paul II updated the regulations and deleted any reference to a coronation. Although the papal tiara has not been formally suppressed, it has not been used since 1963, and the papal inauguration celebrations have included no coronation ceremony.
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The papal crown is called a 'tiara'
The crown worn by popes of the Catholic Church is called a papal tiara. The tiara refers to the entire headpiece, including the various crowns, circlets, and diadems that have adorned it through the ages. The first usage of the word "tiara" to refer to the crown is found in the life of Pope Paschal II (1099-1118) in the Liber Pontificalis. However, the papal tiara has a long history that dates back to as early as the 8th century.
Over time, the design of the papal tiara evolved. In the 9th century, a circlet of linen or cloth of gold was added to the base of the traditional white papal headgear. This eventually developed into a metal crown, and by the 13th century, it had become a highly decorated, tooth-edged crown. During the pontificate of Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303), a second crown was added to signify his spiritual and temporal power. The tiara of Boniface VIII, adorned with jewels and precious stones, became known as the Tiara of St. Sylvester and was considered a relic.
In the 14th century, the tiara took on a three-tiered form, also called the triregnum or triple crown. This design symbolised the pope's universal office, jurisdiction over the whole church, and temporal power. The three crowns also represented the pope's authority over the church on earth, in purgatory, and in heaven, as well as his role as the Vicar of Christ. The surviving papal tiaras are all in the triple form, the oldest dating back to 1572.
The last pope to wear the papal tiara was Pope Paul VI in 1963, at the beginning of his reign. Since then, popes have declined the use of the tiara, opting instead for a pallium placed over their shoulders as a sign of fidelity to Christ. While the papal tiara has fallen out of use, it has not been formally suppressed, and a new pope may choose to wear it.
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Pope John Paul I declined to wear a tiara
The Pope's crown, or tiara, has been a symbol of the papacy since the 8th century. It is a three-tiered crown, also known as the triregnum or triple crown, and is adorned with jewels. The first tier represents the Pope's universal office, the second his jurisdiction over the whole church, and the third his temporal power.
Pope John Paul I declined to wear the papal tiara when he was inaugurated as pope in 1978. He was the first pope to refuse to wear the crown, and his successor, Pope John Paul II, followed his example.
Pope John Paul I's decision was in line with his predecessor, Pope Paul VI, who also chose not to wear the tiara after his coronation in 1963. Pope Paul VI saw the tiara as a symbol of the temporal power of the popes and instead wanted to focus on Jesus Christ and the Gospel message. He donated his tiara to the poor in 1964, making him the last pope to wear the ceremonial crown.
Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II shared this sentiment and did not wish to revive the use of the tiara. They believed that the tiara would distract people from the central truths of the faith and that the emphasis should be on Jesus Christ rather than the "power" of the pope. Instead of wearing the tiara, they chose to wear a pallium, a sign of fidelity to Christ, during their solemn inaugurations.
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Tiaras were donated to the papacy by world leaders
The papal tiara, a crown worn by popes of the Catholic Church, has been adorned with jewels and precious gems. The first papal tiaras appeared in the 9th century, and over time, the base crown became decorated with jewels to resemble the crowns of princes. The number of crowns on the tiara also evolved, with Pope Boniface VIII adding a second crown to signify his spiritual and temporal power, and a third crown being added before the death of Pope Benedict XII, resulting in the triregno.
Many tiaras were donated to the papacy by world leaders and heads of state. For example, Pope Pius VII was crowned in exile with a papier-mâché tiara, for which the ladies of Venice contributed their jewels. Other tiaras were donated by Queen Isabella II of Spain, William I (German Emperor), Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, and Napoleon I of France, whose tiara was the heaviest in the papal collection, weighing 8.2 kg (18 lb).
The last pope to wear a papal tiara was Pope Paul VI in 1963, who donated his jewel-covered, gold and silver tiara to the poor, making a gesture against world poverty. While the papal tiara has not been formally suppressed, subsequent popes have declined to wear it, with Pope John Paul I stating that it was "not the time to return to a ceremony and an object considered, wrongly, to be a symbol of the temporal power of the popes."
The surviving papal tiaras are all in the triple form, with a circular beehive shape and a central core made of silver. Some are sharply conical, while others are bulbous or bullet-shaped. These tiaras are now on display in the Vatican, with some being sent around the world as part of a display of historic Vatican items.
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The tiara has been replaced by the miter
The papal tiara is a crown that was worn by popes of the Catholic Church from as early as the 8th century to the mid-20th century. The last pope to wear a papal tiara was Pope Paul VI in 1963, and he only did so at the beginning of his reign. The tiara has three tiers, with the oldest surviving example of this design dating back to 1572.
The tiara is adorned with jewels and has been added to over the centuries. The first crown appeared at the base of the traditional white papal headgear in the 9th century. When the popes assumed temporal power in the Papal States, the base crown was decorated with jewels to resemble the crowns of princes. A second crown was added by Pope Boniface VIII to signify his spiritual and temporal power. A third crown was added before the death of Pope Benedict XII in the 14th century, creating the triple tiara or triregno.
The triple tiara has been a powerful symbol of the papacy, but it has not always been embraced by its wearers. In recent times, it has been seen as a symbol of temporal power, and some popes have chosen not to wear it. Pope John Paul I refused to be crowned with the tiara, and his successor, Pope John Paul II, also declined a coronation. Instead, they opted for a coronation-less investiture, with the pallium placed over their shoulders as a sign of fidelity to Christ.
Pope Benedict XVI took this a step further and removed the tiara from his papal coat of arms, replacing it with a mitre. This was a controversial break with tradition, as the use of the mitre as a heraldic ornament had been prohibited by Pope Paul VI. The mitre in Pope Benedict XVI's coat of arms had three levels, reminiscent of the three tiers of the papal tiara.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the papal crown, or tiara, was traditionally worn by the Popes until the pontificate of Pope John Paul I. The last Pope to wear a papal tiara was Pope Paul VI in 1963.
Popes have stopped wearing crowns because they are heavy, uncomfortable, and ostentatious. Some also believe that wearing a crown with jewels sends the wrong message when asking people to give to the poor and help their neighbours.
The jewels on the Pope's crown, or tiara, represented the Pope's universal office, jurisdiction over the whole Church, and temporal power.
The papal tiara is a crown that was worn by popes of the Catholic Church from as early as the 8th century to the mid-20th century. The first mention of the tiara is found in the account of the life of Pope Constantine (708-715) in the Liber Pontificalis. The tiara developed over time, and by the 13th century, it featured a highly decorated, tooth-edged crown.
The papal tiara is still referred to as the "papal tiara" or the "triple tiara". The triple tiara, or triregnum, refers to the three-tiered form that the tiara took in the 14th century.
