Zucchetto

Pileolus (from Latin pileus "hat " or " cap "), even Zucchetto, Soli Deo, Latin Subbirettum or Submitrale, German and skullcap, ancient dome, is part of the Church's clothing, especially of abbots, bishops, cardinals and the pope. From this it is carried within the liturgy to the corresponding liturgical clothes under or instead of Mitra or the biretta and outside the cassock.

Use

The Pope, the Cardinals and the Apostolic nuncios wear a Pileolus from moire silk; The Pileoli the other dignitaries consist of simple silk. Even religious men know a Pileolus the similar skullcap, which originally covered the site of the tonsure and has the color of the respective Ordensgewandung. Today, there is often only supported by the abbots.

The colors of the caps correspond to the usual ecclesiastical colors Use:

• White for the Pope
• Scarlet for cardinals and since 1854 as a special privilege for the Archbishop of Salzburg as Primate Germaniae and " born legate " of the Pope
• Purple for bishops and rare - with papal permission - individual canons cathedral chapter. In addition, for abbots of territorial abbeys, such as Einsiedeln Abbey OSB, Abbey Mehrerau OCist or force special ceremony.
• When the color of the abbots Pileolus depends on the respective medal colors: Benedictine abbots may wear a black silk Pileolus; at abbots of the Cistercian and particularly from the Premonstratensian Order of Pileolus can be white (not worn in the presence of the Pope ), or possibly purple ( see above).

Outside the liturgy (unless special permission is ) entitled to wear a skullcap:

• Black ( not silk ): all other clerics and monks
• Brown: religious men of the mendicant orders with brown Habit ( Carmelites, Franciscans, Capuchins )

In the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass and in the exposition of the Blessed Pileolus the sign of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is removed. Therefore, the cap also Soli Deo is called, which means: " Only God " (and anyone else ), this hat pulled. Since the Pope is regarded as the Vicar of Christ in the Catholic Church, it is custom to remove the Pileolus in his welcome.

With the use of the Jewish kippa the Pileolus has nothing to do, he resembles him only in the shape and the fact that it is in each case about religious clothing.

Historical development

The Pileolus was a small cap that covered the back of the head and ears and was reduced to the now common skullcap since the Baroque period in the 16th and 17th centuries in the Middle Ages.

Bishops and other clerics who are entitled to use the pontifical, the Pileolus often wear even under the miter, which explains the common names also Submitrale. This custom can be the first show in the course of the 14th century, as on the grave figure of Clement VI. La Chaise- Dieu under the tiara headgear is already represented in the form of a Pileolus. This custom spread during the 15th century and became common practice in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The initial award of the red Pileolus to the Cardinals, except those with specific religious habit of the Order, can be show for the year 1464 in the pontificate of Paul II. Previously, he was purple for the princes of the church, which was also the formulation that a cleric " awarded the Purple gets " when he was appointed cardinal. At cardinals from the Order of the Red Pileolus was first awarded in 1591 by Gregory XIV.

Since 1867 it is a Pius IX on. declining available also the bishops who wore green before Pileoli, allowed these to wear in violet color, which quickly generally prevailed.