A question about the Papal Mass

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Hi my name’s Peter I’m new here. I have a question: who are those men who assist the Pope during a Mass? I know they’re not deacons because they don’t wear dalmatics though there are deacons there. I’m wondering about the man wearing a surplice over a purple cassock. Thanks in advance!
 
PeterLD said:
Hi my name’s Peter I’m new here. I have a question: who are those men who assist the Pope during a Mass? I know they’re not deacons because they don’t wear dalmatics though there are deacons there. I’m wondering about the man wearing a surplice over a purple cassock. Thanks in advance!
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He is the Popes personal assistant.
 
They may possibly be ordained deacons or even priests, but they are wearing the vestments of an altar server or acolyte because they are acting as such during the Mass. A deacon doesn’t have to wear a dalmatic (or a priest a chasuble) unless he’s acting as a deacon/priest in the Mass.

(Another common example of this you will see is that if a priest is present at but not concelebrating a Mass, he may assist with distributing Communion, wearing an alb and stole but not a chasuble.)
 
Thanks for the great answers! could he even be a bishop? I thought only bishops were entitled to wear purple cassocks.
 
I hope someone can verify this but at Papal Masses it is alway a deacon who reads the Gospel.

Fill me in.
 
PeterLD said:
Hi my name’s Peter I’m new here. I have a question: who are those men who assist the Pope during a Mass? I know they’re not deacons because they don’t wear dalmatics though there are deacons there. I’m wondering about the man wearing a surplice over a purple cassock. Thanks in advance!
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If it’s this man you mean…

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

…it is Mgr Georg Ganswein, the Pope’s personal secretary.

Pic description: Pope Benedict XVI’s secretary Georg Ganswein prays during
a mass on the Feast of the Epiphany in St. Peter’s Basilica at Vatican City January 6, 2007
 
PeterLD said:
Hi my name’s Peter I’m new here. I have a question: who are those men who assist the Pope during a Mass? I know they’re not deacons because they don’t wear dalmatics though there are deacons there. I’m wondering about the man wearing a surplice over a purple cassock. Thanks in advance!
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They are the Papal Masters of Ceremonies. The Master of Ceremonies arranges and plans the ceremonies of the Mass and makes sure that everything goes smoothly. You can read about the Papal Masters of Ceremonies here.

You may see a Master of Ceremonies at a liturgy presided by your bishop though he may or may not wear a purple cassock. They are particularly used for certain rarely celebrated liturgies such as the Dedication of a Church. You may also see them in some parishes, particularly around events like Holy Week when the ceremonies are longer and different in some ways from the usual rituals of the Mass.
 
The Holy Father is assisted by Msgr. Guido Marini, his papal Master of Ceremonies. Msgr. Marini also heads the Office of Liturgies of the Supreme Pontiff. There is another priest assisting him during these Papal Masses. I do not remember his name, but, he is also an official with the Secretary of State’s office.

There are two deacons who assist the Holy Father during the Mass. One is the Deacon of the Gospels (he carries the Book of the Gospels) while the other is the Deacon of the Altar (I think that is the term) who assists the Holy Father during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Now, it does get somewhat complicated because in previous high holy days, two Cardinal Deacons flank the Holy Father. These are Cardinals who, although they wear the mitre, are vested in the deacon’s dalmatics. I was surprised to not have seen them for the Christmas Mass and the Urbi et Orbi Message and Blessing.
 
The missed angle here is that higher-ranking monsignori (the papal chamberlains and protonotaries apostolic) wear purple cassocks just as bishops do. These monsignori are, in fact, honorary bishops.
 
Chatter163 said:
The missed angle here is that higher-ranking monsignori (the papal chamberlains and protonotaries apostolic) wear purple cassocks just as bishops do. These monsignori are, in fact, honorary bishops.
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good point
 
PeterLD said:
according to wikipedia a bishop’s cassock is amaranth, a reddish-rose color. thanks for the answers everyone!
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oops I messed up there. a bishops house cassock (simar) is black with amaranth piping and a purple sash. wheres a bishops choir dress cassock is purple with amaranth trim.
 
PeterLD said:
oops I messed up there. a bishops house cassock (simar) is black with amaranth piping and a purple sash. wheres a bishops choir dress cassock is purple with amaranth trim.
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Only the Bishop of Rome wears a simar and it’s white.
 
from what I’ve read online a simar has a shoulder cape and is worn by all bishops, not just the Pope. A soutane is just another word for a cassock. though this could all be wrong.
 
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