Thezucchetto (/(t)suːˈkɛtoʊ,zuːˈ-/,[1]alsoUK:/tsʊˈ-/,[2]US:/zʊˈ-/,[3]Italian:[dzukˈketto]; meaning 'smallgourd', fromzucca 'pumpkin' or more generally 'gourd'; plural in English: zucchettos)[a][4] orsolideo,[5] officially apileolus,[6] is a small, hemispherical, form-fitting ecclesiasticalskullcap worn byclerics of theCatholic Church, theSyriac Orthodox Church, by senior clergy in certain denominations ofLutheranism,Anglicanism, andMethodism.[1][2][3][7][8]
It is also called apilus,pilos,pileus,pileolo,subbiretum,submitrale,soli deo,berrettino,calotte orcalotta.[9]
The zucchetto originated as the Paleo-Balkanicpileus and is related to theberet (which itself was originally a large zucchetto). The official name of the zucchetto—pileolus—means "small pileus" in Latin.[10] Clerics adopted the style circa theEarly Middle Ages or earlier,[11] to keep their heads warm and to insulate thetonsure.[12] The name "zucchetto" derives from its resemblance to half apumpkin.[13]It is similar to the Jewishkippah or yarmulke, but typically differs in construction, with the zucchetto made of separate joined sections and color-coordinated to clerical status. It is normally used only by clergy and not by ordinary people, which also differs from the kippah. The resemblance between the two types of headgear is often seen as being deliberate but the zucchetto is distinct from[14] and predates the skullcap style of kippah and yarmulke by hundreds of years.[15]
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In Catholicism, the modern zucchetto is most commonly made of silk. The design utilises eightgores or triangular panels that are joined at the tips to form a hemispherical skullcap. Jutting from the central tip of the zucchetto is the "stem", known asstirpis orstirpes. It is made of a twisted loop of silk cord and is meant to make handling the zucchetto easier.[12] Thestirpes is the primary visual distinction between the zucchetto and the Jewish kippah.[16]
The zucchetto traditionally has a lining of thin whitechamois as an insulator; this is also to help keep the shape of the zucchetto.[12] Inside the trim, there is a strip of velvet to ensure a secure and comfortable fit. Most modern zucchetto designs include a cloth lining, and the contemporary trend is using ordinary synthetic cloth with a simple, natural cloth lining.[17]
The color of the zucchetto in Catholicism denotes the office held by the wearer:
SomeFranciscans have adopted the practice of wearing a brown zucchetto to match their brown habit.[20]
The most commonLutheran andAnglican design can be similar to the Catholic zucchetto or, far more often, similar to the Jewish kippah.[21] A form of the zucchetto is worn by Anglican bishops and is used approximately like that of the 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 slightly larger dimensions. The other exception is that instead of the Catholic "church violet", Anglican churches usually (but not always) usepurple caps on bishops.[citation needed]
In theSyriac Orthodox tradition, a seven-panel zucchetto called aphiro is worn by nearly all priests. It is always black and embroidered with black Orthodox crosses.[22]
Clergy of theSerbian Orthodox Church in theAustrian Empire wore zucchettos (Serbian:ћелепуш) in order to look more similar to the Catholic clergy.[23][24][25]
Allordained men in theLatin Church of the Catholic Church are entitled to wear the black zucchetto unless promoted to a higher office, and it is worn with either thecassock orliturgical vestments, never a suit.[26] When abiretta ormitre is worn, a zucchetto is always worn underneath, hence its other names ofsubbirettum andsubmitrale.[27]
The common tradition is for the cleric to obtain the zucchetto either from an ecclesiastical tailor or a retail church supply. There is also a tradition of friends buying a newly appointed bishop his first zucchetto.[28]
A lower-ranking prelate must alwaysdoff his skullcap to a higher-ranking prelate; all prelates must remove their zucchetti in the presence of the pope, unless the pope prefers otherwise.[18][12]
The zucchetto is worn throughout most of theMass, is removed at the commencement of thePreface, and replaced at the conclusion ofCommunion, when theBlessed Sacrament is put away. The zucchetto is also not worn at any occasion where the Blessed Sacrament isexposed. A short zucchetto stand known as afunghellino (lit. "little mushroom", usually made ofbrass orwood) can be placed near the altar to provide a safe place for the zucchetto when it is not being worn.[27]
Popes and other prelates often give away their skullcaps to the faithful. The practice, which was started in the modern era byPope Pius XII, involves giving the zucchetto to the faithful, as akeepsake, if presented with a new one as a gift. PopesJohn Paul II,Benedict XVI,Francis, andLeo XIV have continued the custom.[29] The pope might choose not to give the visitor his own zucchetto, but rather place the gift zucchetto on his head for a moment as a blessing, then return it to the giver. The above popes mentioned, bishops, cardinals and archbishops such asFulton J. Sheen frequently gave their old zucchetti in exchange for the newly offered one; Sheen also gave his zucchetto as a keepsake to laity who requested it.[29]
In one episode of the TV showPawn Stars, Father Richard Kunst, curator of Papal Artifacts website, was called to authenticate a zucchetto said to have belonged toPope Pius XII duringWorld War II. The show’s producers reached out to him because of his expertise in papal memorabilia. Father Kunst confirmed the authenticity of the item, highlighting its historical and religious significance.[30]
In that episode,Chumlee, one of the shows hosts' objective was to authenticate that zucchetto. They consulted an assistant professor of theology inRome, who confirmed the zucchetto’s authenticity.[31][32]
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a small pileus
zucchetto was developed from the pileus—a close-fitting, brimless hat commonly worn by the Romans—and has probably been worn by ecclesiastics since the 13th century. It is likely that the cap was originally used to cover the tonsured (shaved) heads of clergy in cold churches
the shape and form of a kippah is far more modern than the practice of covering one's head. Jews wore hats of all shapes and sizes throughout history. Even the so-called "Jewish hat" which was required of Jews in the Middle Ages looked nothing like today's kippah; it was tall and conical. While Jews may have worn smaller caps, closer to kippot, at various points in history or in certain regions, it wasn't a consistent practice
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