Zucchetto is a small skullcap worn by Catholic clergy, notably by the Pope. Its name derives from the Italian word “zucca,” meaning “pumpkin,” due to its shape resembling a small pumpkin. In Catholicism, the contemporary zucchetto is typically crafted from silk, featuring eight gores or triangular panels stitched together to create a hemispherical shape. Extending from its central tip is the stem, called “stirpis”, consisting of a twisted loop of silk cord designed for easier handling. This stirpis serves as the primary visual differentiator between the zucchetto and the Jewish kippah hat.
Zucchetto can vary in color to denote different ranks within the Catholic hierarchy:
white – worn only by the Pope;
scarlet red – by cardinals;
amaranth (purple) – by archbishops, bishops, territorial abbots and territorial prelates;
black – by non-territorial abbots, priests and deacons.
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