A new pope’s new clothes
After meeting to discuss issues, the Catholic Church’s cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday afternoon to elect a new pope. Meanwhile, near the Pantheon in Rome, the tailors at Gammarelli will make preparations of their own.
For 200 years, the ecclesiastical tailors have been creating garb for bishops, cardinals, pontiffs and priests. As Catholics await the announcement of the Vatican’s next leader, Gammarelli is expected to be already creating papal garb — in small, medium and large sizes so whoever is chosen will get the right fit.
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- At Gammarelli, a discreet oak-panelled tailor’s shop in central Rome, they are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments (like these, worn by Pope Benedict in 2010) for the new pope – in small, medium and large sizes so whoever is chosen will get the right fit. Tradition dictates that three versions of the same vestments will be made in advance for the new pope, whatever his size, be it, for example, Timothy Dolan, the portly Archbishop of New York, or the diminutive Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines. (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)
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- A Papal white skull cap and burgundy shoes are displayed in the Gammarelli’s tailor shop window in Rome in this April 14, 2005 file picture. At Gammarelli, a discreet oak-paneled tailor’s shop in central Rome, they are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope – in small, medium and large sizes so whoever is chosen will get the right fit. Few of the tourists strolling past on their way to the Pantheon, one of Rome’s grandest ancient temples, give the shop at 34 Via Santa Chiara a second glance. Locals who know it is the pope’s tailor are a bit more curious. (Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuter)
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- Annibale Gammarelli carries vestments at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
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- An employee holds the red cloth which is used to make a cardinal’s vestment at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
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- An employee works at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
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- An employee holds up a red cardinal’s zucchetto at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP Getty Images)
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- A pope’s zucchetto is pictured at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Lorenzo Gammarelli poses in front of Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. Six generations of Gammarelli’s have served thousands of priests, and hundreds of Bishops and Cardinals and Pontiffs. (Alberto Pizzolo/AFP/Getty Images)
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- An employee prepares a cardinal’s vest at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/ Getty Images)
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- An employee prepares a cardinal’s vest at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Ecclesiastical shoes and socks are pictured at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
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- A cardinal’s ring is seen at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
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- An employee prepares a cardinal’s vest at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
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- An employee prepares a cardinal’s vest at Gammarelli ecclesiastical tailoring in Rome on February 21, 2013. The tailors are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope in small, medium and large sizes so that whoever is chosen will fit right into the clothes. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
For the new pope, it’s all sewn up — small, medium or large
By Robin Pomeroy, Reuters
February 14, 2013
ROME –—
At Gammarelli, a discreet oak-panelled tailor’s shop in central Rome, they are expected to be already creating sumptuous vestments for the new pope — in small, medium and large sizes so whoever is chosen will get the right fit.
Few of the tourists strolling past on their way to the Pantheon, one of Rome’s grandest ancient temples, give the shop at 34 Via Santa Chiara a second glance. Locals who know it is the pope’s tailor are a bit more curious.
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Annemarie Singer
Mar 12, 2013 @ 14:57:25
This picture is of a Zucchetto, not a biretta.
Michael Gold
Mar 13, 2013 @ 09:50:10
Thanks for pointing that out, Annemarie. We took that caption information from the photographer, but we’ll correct it.