Ethan Walker
Cardinals are senior members of the clergy of the Catholic Church, chosen and formally created by the pope, and they typically hold the title for life. The religious dress of cardinals varies according to the occasion, with ordinary dress, choir dress, and liturgical dress formed from symbolic garments that reflect the church hierarchy and spiritual responsibilities of the wearers. The colour red is the main colour of the cardinal uniform, and it is said to represent the blood of Christ and the blood that cardinals must be ready to shed in the service of the Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vestments | From the Latin word for "clothes", denoting the ceremonial garments the clergy wear when carrying out their sacred duties |
| Ordinary dress | Black cassock with scarlet piping, buttons, and borders, or a solid scarlet cassock |
| Black cassock is called the ordinary cassock and is worn when performing other duties and at less formal functions | |
| White cassock is called the house cassock and is worn without a cape throughout the day when the Cardinal is not participating in any liturgical ceremony | |
| Liturgical dress | Red cassock and shoulder cape (mozzetta), together with the rochet (loose white linen vestment bordered with lace) and biretta (the square hat) |
| Choir dress | Worn when a Cardinal attends public liturgical prayer or administers the Sacraments (except for Mass) |
| Biretta | A square hat with rigid flaps, and is scarlet in colour |
| Pectoral cross | Worn around the neck, fitted with a red and gold cord or metal chain |
| Cape | A short cape worn over the shoulders and buttoned down the front, derived from cappa magna meaning great cape and is a garment of Episcopal dignity |
| Colour | Scarlet, symbolising the blood of Christ and the blood that cardinals must be ready to shed in the service of the Church |
| Black, worn by secular priests | |
| Fuchsia, worn by Supernumerary Protonotaries Apostolic and Bishops | |
| Violet, worn until the 1460s |
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What You'll Learn
Scarlet robes
The scarlet robes, or vestments, worn by cardinals are steeped in centuries of ecclesiastical tradition. The attire worn by these senior members of the Catholic Church clergy is rich with symbolism, cultural significance, and historical continuity.
Scarlet, specifically, is the main colour of the cardinals' uniforms, representing the blood of Christ and the blood cardinals must be ready to shed in the service of the Church. The scarlet robe is also said to symbolise the cardinals' willingness to shed their blood in defence of the Catholic faith.
The ordinary dress for cardinals includes a black cassock with scarlet piping, borders, and buttons, or a solid scarlet cassock. The cassock is a close-fitting, ankle-length garment with long sleeves, worn for public ceremonies of the Church. It is buttoned down the front, with 33 buttons symbolising the 33 years that Christ spent on Earth. The ordinary cassock is often topped with a short, same-coloured shoulder cape called a pellegrina, or a longer cape called a mozzetta, which is also scarlet and usually has 9 or 10 buttons.
The colour of the trimmings and the fascia (sash) of the cassock correspond to the ecclesiastical rank of the wearer, with scarlet being the colour for cardinals. The fascia is a wide length of fabric belted around the middle, and the mozzetta is a type of ferraiolo, a cape worn over the shoulders, tied at the neck, and without any trim or piping.
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Black cassocks
The black cassock is the ordinary cassock worn by cardinals when performing other duties and at less formal functions. It is a close-fitting, ankle-length garment with long sleeves and is derived from the caracalla, a robe widely worn by the clergy as early as the 5th century. The black cassock has scarlet piping, borders, buttons, and a matching black pellegrina cape. Around the waist is a scarlet fascia, and sometimes a scarlet zucchetto is worn on the head. The colour of the trimmings and the fascia correspond to the ecclesiastical rank of the wearer.
The ordinary dress for cardinals and the pope (and other ecclesiastical ranks) is very similar. The main difference is the colour of the garments and certain small details. The ordinary dress is worn when a cardinal attends public liturgical prayer or administers the sacraments (except for Mass).
The colour of the cassock can vary depending on the liturgical season and whether the garment is being worn as ordinary dress or under other vestments. For important liturgies and ceremonies, such as consistories and conclaves, cardinals wear a red cassock and shoulder cape (mozzetta), together with a rochet (loose white linen vestment bordered with lace) and biretta (the square hat). The ceremonial cassock is a long, heel-length scarlet robe worn under the other items, with only the lower part visible.
The wearing of red clothing by cardinals arose from a medieval custom in Lyons, France, where the canons of the cathedral wore red to distinguish themselves from other clergy. The office and title of canon is an honorary appointment by the diocesan bishop, usually conferred on older or retired priests.
Eastern Catholic cardinals continue to wear the normal dress appropriate to their liturgical tradition, though some may line their cassocks with scarlet and wear scarlet fascias, or in some cases, wear Eastern-style cassocks entirely of scarlet.
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Red hats
The red hat, or biretta, is distinctive not only for its scarlet colour but also for the absence of a pompom or tassel on the top, unlike the birettas worn by other prelates. The red hat was granted to cardinals by Pope Innocent IV in 1244. The scarlet colour of the biretta is said to represent the blood of Christ and the blood cardinals must be prepared to shed in the service of the Church.
The biretta is worn with the rochet, a loose white linen vestment with lace borders, and the mozzetta, a short red cape reaching down to the elbows. The mozzetta is usually adorned with 9 or 10 buttons. Cardinals also wear a red zucchetto, a small round hat, under the biretta.
The red hat is part of the ordinary dress of cardinals, which includes a black cassock with scarlet piping, borders, and buttons, or a solid scarlet cassock. The cassock is a close-fitting, ankle-length garment with long sleeves and 33 buttons down the front, symbolising the 33 years of Christ's life. The ordinary cassock is belted in the middle with a wide length of fabric called the fascia, or sash, which is scarlet for cardinals.
The red attire of cardinals is said to have originated from a medieval custom in Lyons, France, where the canons of the cathedral wore red to distinguish themselves from other clergy. Over time, cardinals began to wear red as a means of distinguishing themselves from other clerics.
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Pectoral crosses
A Catholic Cardinal's attire is steeped in tradition and symbolism, with each element of their vestments holding a specific meaning. One of the most recognisable and significant elements is the pectoral cross.
The pectoral cross is a large and ornate cross, usually made of precious metals and often adorned with jewels. It is worn suspended from the neck by a chain or cord, resting on the cardinal's chest, with the cross itself often symbolising faith, sacrifice, and Christ's redemption. The practice of wearing pectoral crosses has its roots in the early Church, where they were worn by bishops and cardinals as a symbol of their office and a reminder of their spiritual duties.
Over time, the pectoral cross has become a symbol of a cardinal's authority and responsibility. It is often seen as a sign of their commitment to the faith and their role as a leader within the Catholic Church. The design of the pectoral cross can vary, but it typically features intricate details and is often unique to the individual cardinal, sometimes even incorporating their coat of arms or personal symbols that hold significance for them.
The cross is usually presented to a cardinal upon their appointment by the Pope, becoming a symbol of their specific role in the Church. The chain from which the cross hangs can also be quite elaborate, reflecting the importance and high rank of the cardinal within the Church hierarchy. While the pectoral cross is a distinctive part of a cardinal's vestments, it is not worn at all times. Typically, it is reserved for formal ceremonies, liturgical services, and other solemn occasions, underscoring the importance and sacredness of such events.
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Capes
One type of cape worn by cardinals is the pellegrina, a short cape that sits on the shoulders and is the same colour as the cassock, either black with scarlet piping or solid scarlet. The pellegrina is worn over the cassock and belted at the waist with a scarlet fascia, a wide length of fabric that serves as a sash.
Another type of cape worn by cardinals is the mozzetta, a slightly longer cape that reaches down to the elbows and is typically scarlet in colour. The mozzetta usually has 9 or 10 buttons and is worn over the rochet, a loose white linen vestment bordered with lace. The mozzetta is also sometimes referred to as a ferraiolo, a cape worn over the shoulders and tied at the neck with narrow strips of cloth.
The colour scarlet is significant in the attire of Catholic cardinals as it is said to "'represent the blood of Christ' and the blood that cardinals must be willing to shed in defence of the Catholic faith. This tradition of wearing scarlet dates back to Pope Innocent IV in 1244, who granted cardinals the privilege of wearing the red hat.
It is worth noting that Eastern Catholic cardinals may follow their own liturgical traditions in their dress, sometimes lining their cassocks with scarlet or wearing entirely scarlet Eastern-style cassocks.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Cardinals wear a variety of vestments depending on the occasion. Their ordinary dress is a black cassock with scarlet piping, buttons, and a matching black pellegrina cape. Cardinals also wear a scarlet fascia (sash) and a scarlet zucchetto on their head.
For important occasions, Cardinals wear a red cassock and a shoulder cape (mozzetta) with a rochet (loose white linen vestment bordered with lace) underneath. On top of all this, they wear a biretta, a square hat with rigid flaps.
The colour red, specifically scarlet, is the main colour of the Cardinals' uniform. It represents the blood of Christ and the blood that Cardinals must be willing to shed in the service of the Church.
Catholic Cardinals wear a zucchetto, a small round hat, on their head. It is red for Cardinals and white for the Pope.
