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Themozzetta ([motˈtsetta], pluralmozzette; derived fromalmuce) is a short elbow-length sartorial vestment, acape that covers the shoulders and is buttoned over the frontal breast area. It is worn over therochet orcotta as part ofchoir dress by some of theclergy of theCatholic Church, among them thepope,cardinals,bishops,abbots,canons and religious superiors. There used to be a small hood on the back of the mozzetta of bishops and cardinals, but this was discontinued byPope Paul VI. The hood, however, was retained in the mozzette of certain canons and abbots, and in that of the popes, often trimmed insatin,silk orermine material.
The color of the mozzetta, which is worn over acassock and sometimes other choralvestments, represents the hierarchical rank of the person wearing it. Cardinals wear ascarlet mozzetta, while bishops and those withequivalent jurisdiction (e.g.,apostolic administrators,vicars apostolic,exarchs,prefects apostolic,territorial prelates, andterritorial abbots, if not bishops) wear anamaranth mozzetta. Abbots, rectors ofbasilicas and somecanons wear a black mozzetta with redpiping and buttons. The black mozzetta may be worn by priests who are rectors of parishes. Some religious orders have a mozzetta as part of theirreligious habit: theCanons Regular of the Austrian Congregation wear a violet mozzetta; their confreres in the Congregation of St. Maurice wear a red mozzetta; theCongregation of Holy Cross, theCanons Regular of the Immaculate Conception and theLateran Canons wear a black mozzetta.[citation needed]
Thepope wears five versions of the mozzetta: the summer mozzetta, which is of redsatin; the winter mozzetta, which is of redvelvet trimmed with whiteermine fur; the redserge mozzetta, which is worn during Masses for the deceased; the red cloth mozzetta, which is worn during the Lenten and Advent season; and the Paschal mozzetta, worn only duringEastertide, which is of whitedamask silk trimmed with white fur.[1]
The winter mozzetta and the Paschal mozzetta fell into disuse during the pontificate ofJohn Paul II (1978–2005), but their use was briefly restored byBenedict XVI (2005–2013)[2] before being discontinued again byFrancis (2013–2025). Benedict wore the winter mozzetta during the papalstation at the image of theMadonna near theSpanish Steps that traditionally marks the beginning ofRome's winter season, and he wore it on all the occasions in the winter season where this garment was appropriate.
The use of the papal mozzetta was restored by PopeLeo XIV (since 2025) after his election, along with the golden pectoral cross.
The mozzetta is a sign of authority. Priests ranked as monsignors who are also pastors may wear black cassocks with matchingpellegrinae, not mozzettas, both trimmed with violet buttons and piping only in their own parishes, as having attained "a touch of the purple" pertaining to the episcopal rank. Bishops wear their mozzettas of violetwatered silk or a plainer fabric, with violet buttons and piping or, with less formality, black with amaranth buttons and piping, in their own dioceses. Cardinals may wear scarlet mozzettas of watered silk anywhere in their roles as Princes of the Church. The pope also wears his mozzetta anywhere in the world, usually with a heavily embroidered red stole over it, as a sign of his universal sovereignty.[citation needed]
On the evening of his election in 2013, Pope Francis did not wear the mozzetta, appearing on the balcony of St Peter's in a white papalcassock, surmounted by thepellegrina. He donned the broad scarlet papal stole only when bestowing the blessingurbi et orbi.[3] His successor,Pope Leo XIV, opted to wear the mozzetta for his first public appearance.[4]
Not to be confused with the mozzetta, the pellegrina is a shoulder cape of elbow-length like the mozzetta but open in front, worn with thecassock, either fixed to it or detachable. It differs from the mozzetta also in not being associated with a cotta,surplice, orrochet.[citation needed]
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