The umbraculum ( it, ombrellone, "big umbrella", in basilicas also conopaeum) is a historic piece of the papal regalia and insignia, once used on a daily basis to provide shade for the pope (Galbreath, 27). Also known as the pavilion, in modern usage the umbraculum is a symbol of the Catholic Church and the

authority In the fields of sociology and political science, authority is the legitimate power of a person or group over other people. In a civil state, ''authority'' is practiced in ways such a judicial branch or an executive branch of government.''The N ...

of the pope over it. It is found in the contemporary Church at all the basilicas throughout the world, placed prominently at the right of their main altars. Whenever the pope visits a basilica, its umbraculum is opened. Translated from the Latin language into the Italian language, it is known as an ''ombrellino'', or in the English language as an ''umbrella''. It is shaped as a Baldachin-type canopy with broad alternating gold and red stripes, the traditional colors of the pontificate ( white did not begin to be used as the papal color until after the Napoleonic wars). It also featured a staff with small bells, which often chimed to announce the arrival of a pope traveling by horse and carriage. Alexander VI was the first pope to use the umbraculum as a symbol of the temporal powers of the papacy (Galbreath, 31); royalty during those days commonly walked outdoors under a canopy. A member of the

Papal Gentlemen A Papal Gentleman, also called a Gentleman of His Holiness, is a lay attendant of the pope and his papal household in Vatican City. Papal gentlemen serve in the Apostolic Palace near St. Peter's Basilica in ceremonial positions, such as escorting d ...

would often follow behind a pope with the umbraculum in hand. The umbraculum is part of the coat of arms of the Holy See '' sede vacante'', i.e., between the reigns of two popes. It was first used as an interregnal emblem in this way on coins minted in 1521 (Galbreath, 34). The coat of arms of the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, who exercises the temporal sovereignty of the Holy See during a sede vacante, is also ornamented with a pair of gold and silver keys in saltire surmounted by an umbraculum. The umbraculum is one of the symbols bestowed by the pope when he elevates a church to the rank of a minor basilica; the umbraculum of a major basilica is made of cloth of gold and red velvet, while that of a minor basilica is made of yellow and red silk. The umbraculum is also represented behind the shield in the coat of arms of a basilica. But these symbols are not mentioned in the 1989 Vatican directives.

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Procession with ''umbraculum''
by the collegiate chapter of the Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul in

Gozo Gozo (, ), Maltese: ''Għawdex'' () and in antiquity known as Gaulos ( xpu, 𐤂𐤅𐤋, ; grc, Γαῦλος, Gaúlos), is an island in the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After t ...

, Malta
Vacancy of the Apostolic See, 2005
(Umbraculum used in context at Vatican website) {{Papal symbols and rituals Basilicas (Catholic Church) Vatican heraldry Heraldic charges Holy See Regalia Umbrellas

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