The zucchetto (plural zucchetti, Italian for "small gourd"; Latin: pileolus, subbiretum, submitrale; also known as the berettino, calotte, or the soli-deo), is a small skullcap worn by clerics of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in Anglicanism.[1]
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The zucchetto was originally adopted probably around the beginning of the Byzantine Era for practical reasons, to keep clerics' tonsured heads warm. It has survived as a traditional item of dress. Its name may derive from its resemblance to half of a pumpkin, or from the fact that it covers a "whole pumpkin" (i.e., the head). Its appearance is almost identical to the Jewish kippah (yarmulke), though its significance is quite different.[1][2]
The zucchetto is a descendant of the beret. In the Catholic tradition, it is most commonly made of silk or polyester fabric sewn together in eight triangular panels. Jutting from the centre of the zucchetto at the top is the "stem", known as stirpis or stirpes. It is made of a twisted loop of silk cord and is meant to make the handling of the zucchetto easier. The stirpes is the primary visual distinction between the zucchetto and the Jewish kippah. Originally, the zucchetto was lined with thin leather (chamois) as an insulator; this was also meant to help keep the shape of the zucchetto.[3]
In the Orthodox tradition, a seven-panel zucchetto called a phiro is worn by priests. It is always black and embroidedered with black Orthodox crosses. All ordained members of the Roman Catholic Church are entitled to wear the zucchetto. As with much ecclesiastical apparel, the colour of the zucchetto denotes the wearer's rank: the pope's zucchetto is white, those worn by cardinals are red or scarlet, and those of bishops, territorial abbots and territorial prelates are violet. Priests and deacons wear a black zucchetto although the use of the zucchetto by priests in actual practice is extremely rare aside from abbots. It is, however, quite common for priests assigned to the Vatican.[2][4]
All clerics who hold the "episcopal character"—that is to say, all bishops including the pope, cardinals, titular bishops and diocesan bishops—wear the zucchetto throughout most of the Mass, removing it at the commencement of the Preface and replacing it at the conclusion of Communion. A short stand placed on the altar, usually made of brass or wood and known as a funghellino is used in some churches to hold the zuchetto during that part of the service. Also, the zucchetto is worn beneath the mitre. This is the reason for one of the alternate names for the zucchetto, the submitrale.[5][6]
The late Pope John Paul II often gave guests the zucchetto he was wearing as a keepsake if presented with a new one as a gift. Pope Benedict XVI has continued with the practice, which was started in the modern era by Pope Pius XII.[7] The pope might choose not to give the visitor his own zucchetto, but rather place the gift zucchetto on his head for a moment then return it. Bishops such as Fulton J. Sheen as well as Pope Pius XII frequently gave their old zucchetto in exchange for the newly offered one.[7]
A form of the zucchetto is worn by Anglican bishops, and is used approximately like that of the Roman Catholic Church. The Anglican "skullcap" differs from the zucchetto primarily in that it is made of six panels, bears a button at centre of the crown, and is of much fuller, larger dimensions. The other exception is the Anglican Church rejects the Catholic "Church violet" for bishops and instead uses purple.[8][9][10]