The m. paonazzo is a garment of woollen cloth, silk, or twill, with facings or linings of the same colour, and with stitching and stitch-markings of the same hue. Those entitled to wear the m. have a special silk or woollen habit, according to their greater or lesser dignity, consisting of a knee-length coat without a train, fastened with buttons and a paonazzo collar, a paonazzo silk sash with bows, black stockings, and shoes with buckles.
The use of the m. is granted to all ecclesiastical members of the Papal Household (v.), the Gentleman of the Papal Chamber, the bussolanti, the clerics of the Papal Chapel, their supernumeraries, and the Papal couriers. Those who, wearing the m., enjoyed the title of monsignor were customarily called by antonomasia “prelati di m.” or “monsignori di m.”, and to their family coats of arms they added the prelatial hat with two tassels. This designation has now fallen into disuse. The now-extinct lay offices of Advocate of the Poor, Advocate-General of the Treasury, Procurator-General of the Treasury, Commissioner of the Apostolic Camera, and the toga-clad lieutenants of the Roman Curia were granted the black m., and those holding the first four offices also received the title of monsignor, although most were married. Among the offices, now no longer conferred, the use of the m. was enjoyed by the official extra omnes, Keeper of the Consistory. In some ceremonial entries for the possession of new popes, auditors of the Rota also wore the black m.