"Investio te de-papatu Romano ut pr sis urbi et orbi." I invest you with the Roman papacy, that you rule over the city and the world. In the Middle Ages, with these words the Roman Pontiff had the mantum bestowed up him, being just one of various symbols of papal authority. The mantum was, on the one hand, essentially little different than a cope, differing little in form from it other than its more ample length, but it was a vestment that was reserved (at some point at least) to the pope and the grandeur (and weight) of its appearance was certainly one that befit both the grandeur -- and also the weight too -- of the Office of him who wore it.
Now over the years I have seen various images of modern popes vested in the mantum, but today I wanted to share three examples that I haven't come across before, taken once again from an excellent book I have noted to our readers, Il Papa e le sue vesti. These three examples come from three different modern popes: Pius IX, Pius XI and Benedict XV and have their own respective style and flavour.
Now over the years I have seen various images of modern popes vested in the mantum, but today I wanted to share three examples that I haven't come across before, taken once again from an excellent book I have noted to our readers, Il Papa e le sue vesti. These three examples come from three different modern popes: Pius IX, Pius XI and Benedict XV and have their own respective style and flavour.
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| Pius IX |
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| Benedict XV |
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| Pius XI |
