Jun 20, 2012 5:23pm

June 21, 1963: The Election of Pope Paul VI

 A Message From Pope Paul VI's Last Testament

How can I worthily celebrate your kindness, O Lord, for having been included just as I entered into this world, in the ineffable world of the Catholic Church? For having been called and initiated into the priesthood of Christ? For having the joy and mission of serving souls, brothers, youth, the poor, the people of God, and for having the unmerited honour of being a minister of the holy Church, in Rome especially, next to the Pope, then in Milan as archbishop on a throne too exalted for me, the most venerable throne of Sts. Ambrose and Charles, and finally on that supreme, most formidable and most holy throne of St. Peter? I will sing out the Lord's mercies forever.

Papal Artifacts remembers with gratitude the gift of Giovanni  Montini to the Church on the anniversary of his election on June 21, 1963.   A man of great piety and intellect he offered his life in service to the Church  becoming  Pope Paul VI and reigning  until 1978.  His choice of the name, Paul, was an indication of his intention to spread the Gospel.  He saw himself as a humble servant reaching out to the poor of the Third World.  He fostered improved ecumenical relations and almost immediately reconvened the Second Vatican Council.    Those who knew him best described  Pope Paul as brilliant, deeply spiritual, humble, reserved and gentle.  He left in his many addresses and letters a staggering amount of intellectual and spiritual information. 

 A you tube and biography, as well as his coat of arms and burial site are located on page 1 of Papal History.  Artifacts belonging to or associated with Pope Paul VI begin on page 4 of Papal Artifacts.

A Note on  the Zucchettos  of This Collection

The source of several, though not all,  zucchettos  in the Collection is a woman who found Father Kunst while doing a random search on the Internet. She was looking for a worthy place to donate the zucchettos she had inherited from her parents.  Because of his interest and his collection she was assured they would be well taken care of. She gave them as gifts to him.   They include this zucchetto as well as Pius XII’s and John XXIII’s.

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

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.  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 is proud to honor Pope Paul VI on the anniversary of his election.

Paul VI: A Zucchetto 1963-1978

The source of several zucchettos on this site is a woman who found Father Kunst while doing a random search on the Internet. She was looking for a worthy place to donate the zucchettos she had inherited from her parents. Beca... read more »