A (plural: ; from la, galērum, originally connotating a helmet made of skins; cf. '' galea'') is a broad-brimmed hat with tasselated strings which was worn by
clergy
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
in the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
. Over the centuries, the red ''galero'' was restricted to use by individual cardinals while such other colors as black, green and violet were reserved to clergy of other ranks and styles.
Description
When creating a cardinal, the
pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
used to place a scarlet ''galero'' on the new cardinal's head in consistory, the practice giving rise to the phrase "receiving the red hat." In 1969,
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his ...
issued a decree ending the use of the ''galero''. Since that time, only the scarlet ''
zucchetto
The zucchetto (, also ,"zucchetto" (US) and ,
'' and ''
biretta
The biretta ( la, biretum, birretum) is a square cap with three or four peaks or horns, sometimes surmounted by a tuft. Traditionally the three-peaked biretta is worn by Catholic clergy and some Anglican and Lutheran clergy. A four-peaked bire ...
'' are placed over the heads of cardinals during the
papal consistory
In the Roman Catholic Church a consistory is a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals called by the pope. There are two kinds of consistories, extraordinary and ordinary. An "extraordinary" consistory is held to allow the pope to consult with ...
. Some cardinals continue to obtain a ''galero'' privately so that the custom of suspending it over their tombs may be observed.
Raymond Cardinal Burke
Raymond Leo Burke (born June 30, 1948) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. A bishop, cardinal, and the incumbent patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, he led the Archdiocese of St. Louis from 2004 to 2008 and the Diocese ...
has been known to publicly wear the ''galero'' on occasion in the 21st century.
A few cardinals from Eastern Catholic ''
sui iuris
''Sui iuris'' ( or ) also spelled ''sui juris'', is a Latin phrase that literally means "of one's own right". It is used in both secular law and the Catholic Church's canon law. The term church ''sui iuris'' is used in the Catholic ''Code of Can ...
'' Churches don their distinctive headdresses particular to the Churches. Other ecclesiastical hats are used by ministers of other Christian communities. Alongside Catholic clergy, the Scots Public Register records its use by Episcopal and Presbyterian ministers. The
Moderator of the General Assembly
The moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a Presbyterian or Reformed church. Kirk sessions and presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator. The Oxford Dictionary states th ...
of the
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...
uses a black hat, with blue cords and ten tassels.
Traditionally, the ''galero'' hangs over a cardinal’s tomb until it is reduced to dust, symbolizing how all earthly glory is passing. In a cathedral that has no
crypt
A crypt (from Latin ''crypta'' "vault") is a stone chamber beneath the floor of a church or other building. It typically contains coffins, sarcophagi, or religious relics.
Originally, crypts were typically found below the main apse of a chur ...
, the ''galeri'' are suspended from the ceiling. For example, following the death of Cardinal
Basil Hume
George Basil Hume OSB OM (2 March 1923 – 17 June 1999) was an English Catholic bishop. He was a monk and priest of the English Benedictine monastery of Ampleforth Abbey and its abbot for 13 years until his appointment as Archbishop of Wes ...
,
Archbishop of Westminster
The Archbishop of Westminster heads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, in England. The incumbent is the metropolitan of the Province of Westminster, chief metropolitan of England and Wales and, as a matter of custom, is elected presid ...
in 1999, his relatives had a ''galero'' installed above his tomb in
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral is the mother church of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. It is the largest Catholic church in the UK and the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster.
The site on which the cathedral stands in the City of ...
, alongside those of his predecessors.
History
The privilege of wearing the red ''galero'' was first granted to cardinals by Pope Innocent IV in 1245 at the
First Council of Lyon
The First Council of Lyon (Lyon I) was the thirteenth ecumenical council, as numbered by the Catholic Church, taking place in 1245.
The First General Council of Lyon was presided over by Pope Innocent IV. Innocent IV, threatened by Holy Roman ...
. Tradition in the
Archdiocese of Lyon
The Archdiocese of Lyon (Latin: ''Archidiœcesis Lugdunensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Lyon''), formerly the Archdiocese of Lyon–Vienne–Embrun, is a Latin Church metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The Archbishops ...
is that the red color was inspired by the red hats of the canons of Lyon. Pope Innocent wanted his favorites to be distinct and recognizable in the lengthy processions at the council.
Anachronistically, some early Church Fathers are shown wearing a ''galero'', notably
Jerome
Jerome (; la, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian presbyter, priest, Confessor of the Faith, confessor, th ...
frequently is pictured in art either wearing a galero, or with one close by. Even though the office of cardinal did not exist in Jerome's day, he had been secretary to
Pope Damasus I
Pope Damasus I (; c. 305 – 11 December 384) was the bishop of Rome from October 366 to his death. He presided over the Council of Rome of 382 that determined the canon or official list of sacred scripture. He spoke out against major heresies ( ...
, which in later days would have made him a cardinal ''ex officio''.
Cardinal
Jean Cholet
Jean may refer to:
People
* Jean (female given name)
* Jean (male given name)
* Jean (surname)
Fictional characters
* Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character
* Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations
* Jean ...
Girona
Girona (officially and in Catalan language, Catalan , Spanish: ''Gerona'' ) is a city in northern Catalonia, Spain, at the confluence of the Ter River, Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell rivers. The city had an official population of 103,369 in ...
during the
Aragonese Crusade
The Aragonese Crusade or Crusade of Aragon, a part of the larger War of the Sicilian Vespers, was declared by Pope Martin IV against King Peter III of Aragon in 1284 and 1285. Because of the recent conquest of Sicily by Peter, Martin declared ...
, pronouncing him
King of Aragon
This is a list of the kings and queens of Aragon. The Kingdom of Aragon was created sometime between 950 and 1035 when the County of Aragon, which had been acquired by the Kingdom of Navarre in the tenth century, was separated from Navarre in ...
. As a result, ''roi du chapeau'' ("king of the hat") became Charles's nickname.
The use of the ''galero'' was abolished in 1969 with instruction '' Ut sive sollicite''.
Ecclesiastical heraldry
The galero continues to appear today in ecclesiastical heraldry as part of the achievement of the
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...
of an armigerous Catholic cleric. The galero was originally a wide-brimmed
pilgrim's hat
A pilgrim's hat, ''cockel hat'' or ''traveller's hat'' is a wide brim hat used to keep off the sun.
Background
The pilgrim's hat traditionally had a scallop shell emblem. This is thought to be a reference to the Christian legend that, after S ...
, like a sombrero. The ecclesiastical hat replaced the helmet and
crest
Crest or CREST may refer to:
Buildings
*The Crest (Huntington, New York), a historic house in Suffolk County, New York
*"The Crest", an alternate name for 63 Wall Street, in Manhattan, New York
*Crest Castle (Château Du Crest), Jussy, Switzerla ...
, because those were considered too belligerent for men in the clerical estate.
The color of the hat and number of tassels indicate the cleric's place in the hierarchy. Generally, priests, abbots and ministers have a black hat with cords and tassels, the number depending upon their rank. Bishops generally use a green hat with green cords and six green tassels on each side, archbishops have likewise a green hat with green cords and ten green tassels on each side, and cardinals have a red hat with red cords and fifteen red tassels on each side. Depiction in arms can vary greatly depending on the artist's style.
Gallery
Coat of arms of Lorenzo Antonetti.svg, Coat of arms of Cardinal
Lorenzo Antonetti
Lorenzo Antonetti (31 July 1922 – 10 April 2013) was a Cardinal in the Catholic Church, who held several positions in the Vatican diplomatic service.
Early life and ordination
Antonetti was born on 31 July 1922 in Romagnano Sesia, Italy. On 2 ...
, with red galero
Bishop of Colonna family arms.svg, Bishop of Colonna family arms with green galero
Coat of arms of João de Brito.svg, Coat of arms of João de Brito with black galero
Coat of arms of Paulinus Greenwood.svg, Coat of arms of Paulinus Greenwood, Abbot of St Augustine's Abbey with black galero
Tonglogo.jpg, Chinese bishops occasionally avoid having a green ''galero'' in their arms, as wearing a green hat is the Chinese idiom for a
cuckold
A cuckold is the husband of an adulterous wife; the wife of an adulterous husband is a cuckquean. In biology, a cuckold is a male who unwittingly invests parental effort in juveniles who are not genetically his offspring. A husband who is aw ...
; for some years as an auxiliary bishop of Hong Kong, Bishop John Tong Hon used a violet ''galero'' with violet tassels (which is actually the ''galero'' proper to an