ZUCCHETTO (biretum, submitrale, subbiretum, pileolus, calotta, Soli-Deo). - A head covering in the shape of a half-sphere, worn in white by the pope, in red by cardinals (granted in 1464 by Paul II, to regular cardinals in 1591 by Gregory XIV), in violet by bishops (1867 by Pius IX), in black by abbots and by those who have a privilege or indult (CIC 325; 625; 811, 2).

It was in use during the 14th century, because it is seen beneath the tiara of Pope Clement VI (d. 1353) in the tomb monument at La Chaise-Dieu. Its use spread in the course of the 15th century (cf. Ordo Romanus XIV, 118: XV, 144: PL 78, 1272, 1351) and became general in the 16th and 17th. In the 14th and 15th centuries it covered the whole occiput, gradually shrinking to its present small form. It is permitted to wear it during Holy Mass, outside the canon, but it is not permitted in eucharistic processions and at the public exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament. It is also worn beneath the mitre, and is therefore called submitrale.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: J. Braun, Die liturg. Gewandung im Occident und im Orient, Freiburg 1907, pp. 509-10; id., I paramenti sacri, Turin 1914, pp. 163-64.

Pietro Siffrin

@incollection{ec12_zucchetto_biretum_submitrale_s, author = {Siffrin, Pietro}, title = {Zucchetto (Biretum, submitrale, subbiretum, pileolus, calotta, soli-deo)}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {XII}, pages = {1826--1827}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1954}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/zucchetto-biretum-submitrale-subbiretum-pileolus-calotta-soli-deo} }

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