A card from the papal household is attached to the zucchetto and states that he wore this on June 15, 1957.
A zucchetto is 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.
Papal Artifacts joins in gratitude for the gift of Pope Pius XII to our Church.
Featured below are most of the artifacts belonging to or associated with Pope Pius XII. Information about them may be found on Papal Artifacts/Pius XII. Historical information about Pius XII is on Papal History/Pius XII.
- Pope Pius XII: Ordination Card from 1899
- Folder Containing an Image of Pope Pius XII and Five Cancelled Stamps, Dated 1944
- Coin Set from 1942: Pius XII
- Pro Ecclesia Honors from the Pontificates of Pius X & XII
- Stamp Album, Pius XII, Ordinary Postage
- Several Annual Vatican Medals From the Pontificates of St. Pius X, Pius XI, Venerable Pius XII , Saint John XXIII and Paul VI
- Bronze Annual Medallions From the Pontificate of Venerable Pius XII
- Postcard Sent to Ernesto Pacelli, relative of Venerable Pius XII
- Flip-Book of Venerable Pius XII Giving a Blessing
- Galero Given to Pius XII Upon His Appointment as Cardinal in 1929
- Shoe of Pius XII
- A Swiss Guard Uniform from the Pontificate of Pius XII: A Gift from Paul Good
- Zucchetto Belonging to Pope Pius XII
- Framed Photo of Pius XII as Eugenio Card. Pacelli
- Pius XII: Autographed Photo With Blessing, Signed 1940
- Pope Pius XII: Ordination Card from 1899
- Pope Pius XII: A Letter to the King of Greece
- Five Pocket Knives From Various Papacies in Early & Mid 20th Century
- Copy of the New Testament Given to Prisoners of War
- Agnus Dei Wax Disk From the 1950 Jubilee Year
- 1953 Uncirculated Lira Coins
- Silver Annual Medallions From the Pontificate of Venerable Pius XII
- Holy Year Rome 1950 original travel poster from the pontificate of Pius XII