The definitions included in this glossary are associated with the objects contained in this Collection. They are not necessarily the only definitions but are indicative of the information contained in the Papal Artifacts web site.

Wherever applicable, an example of the definition being given from the Collection will be suggested for your viewing.

Stigmata

Bodily marks or sores or sensations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus.

In the Collection you can view A Holy Card Signed by Venerable Therese Neumann, Stigmatic.

The Swiss Guard

The Swiss Guard was founded in 1506 and is a fully operational modern military force.

There have been volumes of information written about the Swiss Guard and the Collection contains many items connected with them. You can view those items by searching Swiss Guard.

The Vatican Comes to Duluth 2004

This was a unique exhibit held at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN that featured all of the items in this Collection through 2004. The proceeds raised during this unique display of Catholic history were used for the education of seminarians from the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota.

2004 was chosen for this event because it commemorated the end of John Paul II’s jubilee year. The items in the exhibit dated from Clement IV in 1265 to John Paul II.

The items in the exhibit are all part of this Collection owned by Father Richard Kunst.

Tiara

Many items in the Collection connected with different papacies mention the cross keys and the tiara, both symbols of the popes.

The tiara is the name of the triple headdress worn during the coronation of a pope. Paul VI was the last pope to use the tiara as part of his inauguration in 1963. He is the last pope to have been crowned in that type of a ceremony. He then sold the tiara to use the money for alms.

His tiara is now in the crypt of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D. C.

It is significant that Benedict XVI has replaced the tiara on his coat of arms with a mitre (but not on the coat of arms of Vatican City State).

Titular Bishop

A titular bishop is one who is not in charge of a diocese. A few examples of bishops in this category are coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, apostolic nuncios and superiors in the Roman Curia. They hold the title to titular sees.

Assigning titular sees serves two purposes. Since part of being a bishop means being the head of a church, titular sees serve that purpose for bishops without a diocese. Additionally, the office memorializes ancient churches, most of which were suppressed because they fell into the hands of conquerors.

You may view the appointment of a titular bishop in the Collection at Pius XI: A Papal Bull, The Most Modern One in the Collection

Vatican City State

A landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome.

It has a territory of 110 acres and a population of about 800.

Vatican City State was founded upon the signing of the Lateran Treaty of 1929 that restored full legal and civil power to the pope, the Bishop of Rome, governs it.

Vellum

Fine-grained lambskin or other animal skin prepared for use in writings not just in antiquity but rather before paper became readily available.

The animal skin is washed, cleaned, soaked and stretched to produce a thin, translucent material strong enough to withstand hundreds of years. The Collection has many documents that were written on vellum but none more beautiful than Sixtus IV: An Illuminated Papal Fiat from 1471.

Vulgate Version of the Bible

The name popularly attributed to the Latin version of the Bible. St. Jerome translated it from Hebrew and Aramaic from 382 –405.

Vulgate is from the Latin, versio vulgata meaning commonly used translation. It should not be confused with a similar word, vulgar.

You can view John Paul II: The Vulgate Version of the Bible in the Collection.

World Youth Day, Denver 1993

World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic Church event that celebrates the Catholic faith. It was initiated in 1985 by John Paul II and attracts hundreds of thousands of young people. It is held in cities all over the world. The World Youth Day in 1993, hosted by the United States, is considered to be one of the top tem most significant events of the pontificate of John Paul II.

You can view the chasuble worn at the closing Mass of World Youth Day Denver in this Collection at The Chasuble Worn by Pope John Paul II for the Closing Mass of World Youth Day Denver.

Zucchetto

A small skullcap worn by clerics of the church. It consists of eight panels sewn together with a stem on top.

It was first adopted to keep the tonsured (shaved) heads of clergy warm in damp, cold churches but it has survived to the present day.

All ordained clergy are entitled to wear a zucchetto. The color denotes the wearer's rank: the pope’s is white; cardinals' are scarlet and bishops' are a shade of purple. Priests' are black. Deacons are also entitled to wear zucchettos.

The zucchetto comes from the Italian word, zucchetti, meaning a small gourd or zucchini and is indicative of its shape.

Bishops wear the zucchetto throughout the Mass, removing it at designated times.

The Collection has a zucchetto from every pope from as far back as Pius IX who reigned from 1846 – 1878 with the exception of John Paul I who was pope for thirty-three days in 1978.

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