The Papal's dressing is quite attractive and sets him apart from the rest of the crowd including other members of the Clergy. Every piece of clothing he puts on has a name and a meaning behind it.
Here are some of the facts:
The Hat
The little skull cap the Pope wears is called a zucchetto, and was originally used by clergy members hundreds of years ago because when they took a vow of celibacy, a ring of hair was cut off their heads. Zuchetto was used to cover that part of the head to retain body heat.
The Pope is the only one who gets to wear the white zucchetto, Red is reserved for cardinals and purple for bishops.
The large cap he wears before he starts mass is called a Mitre. Mitres are only worn by the Pope, bishops and cardinals.
The Ring
Another thing you might notice is the pope's ring which is referred to as “The Ring of the Fisherman,”.The ring depicts St. Peter in a boat with the name of the reigning Pope engraved around. When the Pope dies, the ring is destroyed.
The plain white gown-looking cloth underneath is called an “alb”. It’s a long, white vestment that is worn by priests and clergy members during mass, and its length and white color symbolize purity and innocence.
