Pope Pius XII: Cream-Colored Coat Worn by Him

Information about the “Housetalar” of Pope Pius XII

The note that accompanies the “house cassock” states, “I herewith confirm that the Housetalar was worn for a long time by our Holy Father, Pius XII, of blessed memory.  Sr. M. Pascalina”

Sr. Pascalina was the famed personal assistant to Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli and later as Pope Pius XII.  The term “Housetalar” roughly translates to house cassock or what we may refer to as a house coat.  The large papal apartments built in the 16^th and 17^th centuries have long been known to be drafty and very cold during the winter months.  Some popes such as Pius XI (1922-1939) were known to have cast iron braziers forged (as can be seen in the collection) to act as space heaters in the apartments so as to take the edge off the cold.

Due to the shortage of coal, Sr. Pascalina writes in her memoirs that Pope Pius XII stopped heating the apartments all together during the years of the Second World War.  Certainly during those years and after this housecoat would have been used by the Holy Father regularly, who was known for his weak constitution and poor health.

As an aside, Sr. Pascalina’s signature is almost nonexistent on the “autograph market” so for a note to be written and signed by her adds to this already rare addition to the collection.  –Father Richard Kunst

 Madre Pascalina Lehnert
Housekeeper, Confidante & Secretary to Pope Pius XII

The label on the coat is the name of the tailor who made it: Argeo Agostini, Rome.

Enclosed is a box from Madre Pascalina, which contains a handwritten confirmation that this coat was worn by Pius XII.

Pascalina Lehnert
(25 August 1894 – 13 November 1983),

She born Josefina Lehnert, and was a German religious sister who served as Pope Pius XII’s housekeeper, confidant, and secretary from his period as Apostolic Nuncio to Bavaria in 1917 until his death as pope in 1958.  She managed the papal charity office for Pius XII from 1944 until the pontiff’s death in 1958.

She was a Sister of the Holy Cross Menzingen.

Pacelli was recalled to Rome in 1929 to become Cardinal Secretary of State. Pascalina soon resided as housekeeper with two other sisters in the Vatican.

Pope Pius XI: Cast Iron Brazier with Coat of Arms of the Pontiff
This is the Brazier to which Father Kunst refers in the above informatio .

A brazier is a large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned to keep people warm.  Given the large size of rooms in the Apostolic palace and chapel and the heating systems available in the ’20s & ’30s, portable heating units such as this were utilized for the comfort of the pope and others residing there.

This particular brazier is very heavy duty and was clearly used given the burn marks all on the inside of it.

Father Kunst said this is the only time he has seen one of these made available for purchase.

The Pius XI coat of arms is clearly visible.  

A very interesting addition to the Papal Artifacts’ Collection!