Bishop’s clothing displays tradition, symbolism (2024)

A bishop’s ceremonial dress varies with the occasion, although he always wears a ring and a pectoral cross.

The pontifical ring, usually set with a stone, is presented to a bishop at his ordination. It is a symbol of authority and is worn on the right hand on all occasions, even when the bishop is wearing street clothes. Because the bishop’s office is compared to the union of Christ the bridegroom with the Church, his bride, the bishop receives the ring to signify his sacramental espousal to his diocese.

The pectoral cross is worn on a bishop’s breast (pectus in Latin). Suspended from a cord or chain and worn over his vestments, it is made of precious metal, usually gold, and sometimes contains precious jewels or saints’ relics. Most bishops, when wearing street clothes, wear a small pectoral cross and chain between the vest and suit coat.

Choir dress is worn by the bishop when he presides at a ceremony. This outfit consists of a purple cassock, mozzetta (short cape) and zucchetto (skullcap) and a white rochet (vestment). Purple is the color used in the ceremonial dress of prelates of the Western Church with the exception of abbots, who wear black; cardinals, who wear red; and the pope, who wears white.

The cassock, a close-fitted outer gown with purple sleeves, is purple for ceremonial occasions; otherwise, it is black piped in purple or red. Its name originally was given to the dress of soldiers and horsem*n but survives today in ecclesiastical use only.

The mozzetta is made of silk or wool, reaches to the elbows and buttons down the front. It is worn over the rochet and is used in the bishop’s own diocese as a sign of his jurisdiction.

The rochet is like a shortened alb or an elongated surplice. It is made of linen or cotton, reaching to the knees, with tight-fitted sleeves. It often is adorned with lace. The rochet is worn under the mozzetta.

The zucchetto is a small, round skullcap worn by ecclesiastics of various ranks. The bishop’s zucchetto is purple.

When a bishop celebrates Mass, he wears traditional Mass vestments. In addition, he wears a miter – the ancient headdress of a bishop – over his zucchetto, carries a crosier – a symbolic shepherd’s staff – and is adorned with a pectoral cross and episcopal ring.

The miter, the liturgical headdress of bishops of the Latin rite, is worn as a sign of their special dignity. Made of linen, cloth-of-gold or silk, it is often ornamented. The front and back are stiffened, and each comes to a peak. It has two lappets – strips of cloth – hanging down the back.

While the miter’s origins are unclear, it might have developed from the camelaucum, a helmet-shaped hat worn by authorities of the late Roman Empire. Constantine, the first emperor to recognize Christianity as a religion, allowed bishops to wear the distinctive headpiece in recognition of the role he assigned them in the imperial hierarchy.

Worn during various liturgical actions, the miter is always put aside when the bishop prays.

The crosier is a staff conferred on bishops at their ordination. It is a symbol of authority and is carried by the bishop mainly in his diocese; he may use it elsewhere only with special authorization.

Among the most ancient symbols of leadership, the crosier first served as a pilgrim’s staff or an itinerant preacher’s walking stick. Later, it became the sign of the high priest. In Christian times, it became hooked like a shepherd’s staff because of the command to “watch over the flock” the bishop receives when the crosier is presented to him.