The pope's clothes are infused with history and symbolism. Though many of the vestments have been worn by popes through the ages, each new bishop of Rome puts his own spin on the classics.
In the decades since the Second Vatican Council ended in 1962, the popes have significantly dressed down, eschewing much of the gold and finery their predecessors routinely wore.
The last pope, Benedict XVI, however, put his own mark on the clothes he wore both day-to-day and for special occasions, restoring long-lost hats and capes and adding a bold touch of color.
MITRE
The tall folded hat worn by popes and other bishops is called a mitre,
and is an ancient symbol of priestly authority. Mitre's come in several styles: simplex or simple, made of white linen or silk; pretiosa or precious, adorned in precious stones; and auriphrygiata or gold (seen here) made of gold cloth or white cloth with a gold fringe, typically worn during celebrations.
Benedict was known for wearing mitres that were taller and often more colorful taller than his predecessor John Paul II.
PALLIUM
The pallium is a thin woolen shawl worn during mass and on special
occasions. It covers the pope's shoulders and extends down the length of
his body. In the West, the pallium has typically been symmetrical, running down the center of the popes body.
Benedict, however, occasionally wore an asymmetrical Eastern-style pallium, which some interpreted as a symbol of his efforts to mend relations with Eastern Orthodox churches.
CAMAURO
Another once-forgotten vestment Benedict dug up from the back of the
papal closet is a red-velvet cap with white ermine fringe called a
camauro. Reminiscent of Santa's hat, the camauro is worn only by the pope and only in the winter, in place of the typical zucchetto skull cap worn by bishops and cardinals.
Like the mortarboard caps worn by graduates, hats similar to the camauro were once also worn by medieval academics.
MOZZETTA
Like most vestments, only the pope can wear white mozzettas, and only his come trimmed with ermine fur in the winter.
RED SHOES
The pope historically wore red shoes festooned with a large gold cross
or gold buckle when walking outside, all the better for kissing. Following Vatican II, Pope Paul XVI kept the red shoes but ditched the buckles in the 1960s and ultimately nixed foot kissing altogether.
All successive popes wore red shoes but one, John Paul II, who wore brown shoes.
Benedict XVI reinstated the red shoes, getting his loafers made by a Peruvian-born shoemaker in Rome named Antonio Arellano.
TIARA
Like many of the finer vestments, tiaras went out of style following Vatican II and a decree by Paul VI.
Paul actually renounced a special tiara made especially for him by the city of Milan, which he wore only once briefly at his coronation.
The last tiara was auctioned, and purchased by American Catholics and is on display at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
No popes have worn a tiara since 1963, but the new pope could restore the tradition.