PAPAL MANTLE. — A very ample sacred vestment with a train, also called the pluviale or cappa pontificalis. It resembles the cope, but is longer, extending from the neck to below the feet; it has no sleeves, is open at the front, and is fastened at the chest by means of two small gilt-silver hooks, which are then covered by the clasp. In ancient times, a hood was attached to it at the back, behind the shoulders; now, in its place, there hangs a semicircular piece of cloth sewn only along its upper part.
The p. m. is made of white, rose-coloured, red silk (a colour which, in papal vestments, takes the place of black and violet), or green, according to the liturgical season, with magnificent gold embroidery along the outer edges (called the pedana), over the entire ground, and especially on the broad front borders, which also surround the neck, and at the beginning of the former hood, which is additionally decorated with gold fringe and granoni.
The p. m. is placed upon the pope’s shoulders in the Hall of Vestments by two auditors of the Rota; the first cardinal deacon fastens it at the chest with the hooks, upon which he places
the clasp. Then the two senior cardinal deacons assisting at the throne take hold of its ends and support them throughout all the actions the pope performs at the throne, arranging them so that the p. m. covers the whole of his august person. They are replaced by the two senior masters of ceremonies when the pope is at the kneeler; these arrange upon it the fringes of the p. m. The train of the p. m. falls over the falda, which, together with the latter, is supported by two auditors of the Rota (cf. constitution Ad incrementum decoris of 15 Aug. 1934: AAS, 26 [1934], p. 511, no. LXXVII).
The newly elected pontiff wears the p. m. for the first time to receive the cardinals’ second and third adorations. He then assumes it at the papal chapels which he attends, during the ceremonies of taking possession, those of the opening and closing of the Holy Door, at public and semi-public consistories, and finally to intone the chant of the hour of Terce, if he celebrates Mass solemnly, and to impart the solemn blessing.