3/24/13

Papal Mantum - Papatu Romano




The mantum or papal mantle differs little from an ordinary cope except that it is somewhat longer, and is fastened in the front by an elaborate morse. In earlier centuries it was red in color; red, at the time being the papal color rather than white. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries the immantatio, or bestowal of the mantum on the newly elected pope, was regarded as specially symbolical of investiture with papal authority: 

Investio te de papatu romano ut praesis urbi et orbi,

I invest you with the Roman papacy, that you may rule over the city and the world

were the words used in conferring it at the Papal Coronation.


This ceremony was no longer used in 20th Century Papal Coronations. However, the mantum  is still in use occasionally.

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