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Every time the Pope appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica or walks among a crowd, his figure immediately stands out. That white robe—the papal cassock—is a global icon of peace and approachability. However, if we were to go back in time some five centuries, we would see something completely different:  the Successor of Peter used to wear a deep red.

What changed? Is it a matter of protocol, theology, or simply a custom that has remained forever? By tracing the historical and institutional sources of the Church, we discover that the origin of this attire blends the simplicity of a saint, ancient liturgy, and profound theological symbolism.

The historical twist: A Dominican friar who refused to change his clothes

The short answer that is usually found in history books has a name:  Saint Pius V.

Before his election in 1566, popes wore crimson, the color of Roman royalty and a symbol of martyrdom. But Antonio Ghislieri (Pius V’s given name) was a friar of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), whose habit is traditionally white with a black cape.

When he was elected Pope, out of pure humility and adherence to his mendicant spirituality, he refused to abandon his white vestments. He chose to keep the inner robe of his order beneath his papal robes. The gesture resonated so deeply because of its authenticity and reflection of evangelical purity that his successors decided to maintain the custom, eventually making it a rule of the papal court.

However, historians from the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff highlight a very interesting analytical detail:  white was already present in the papal sphere long before.  In the 13th century, some liturgical documents already mentioned that the Pope wore a red mantle but a white tunic underneath, evoking the innocence of Christ. What Pius V did was consolidate and make visible this white tunic as the outer and principal garment of the Pope’s daily life.

The theology behind color: Beyond aesthetics

In the Catholic Church, liturgical colors are never a purely aesthetic choice; they are visual catechesis. White is the color of  Light, Resurrection, and Transfiguration .

“His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them”  (Mark 9:3).

When the Pope wears white, the Church is not seeking to glorify the fragility of the man who holds the office, but rather to recall the light of Christ whom he represents as his Vicar on Earth. It is a constant reminder that the papal mission is a call to purity, truth, and the joy of the Gospel.

Anatomy and curiosities of the papal vestments

The Holy Father’s white vestments have very specific components that have evolved over time:

• The Cassock and the Pellegrina:  The long tunic of silk or fine wool is accompanied by a small open cape over the shoulders called  a pellegrina . Unlike bishops (who wear a black cassock with purple details), the Pope’s is entirely white.

• The Zucchetto:  That small white cap that covers the crown of the head. Its technical name comes from the Latin  soli Deo tollitur  (“it is only removed before God”). The Pope only removes it during the liturgy at the moment of Consecration, as a sign of adoration of the Eucharist.

• The Mystery of the Three Sizes at the Conclave:  The famous  Gammarelli tailor shop  in Rome, responsible for dressing the popes since 1798, faces a unique challenge before each conclave. Since they don’t know who will be elected, they always prepare three white cassocks in three different sizes (small, medium, and large). This way, the new pontiff can appear on the balcony perfectly uniformed minutes after his election.

A constructive message for the present

In a world saturated with brands, logos, and hyper-designed communication strategies, the Pope’s white vestment remains one of the most powerful visual identities in the history of humanity for a very simple reason:  it communicates universality .

White contains all the colors of the light spectrum. Similarly, the white silhouette of the Successor of Peter does not belong to any particular culture or nation; it is a beacon of unity, reminding us that, above structures and history, the heart of the Church’s message is simplicity, transparency, and the overflowing light of the Resurrection.