Hi,
I asked a question on Ask an Apologist about what the Pope can wear for clothes. This is the response:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=591767
Does the Pope sleep in his cassock? I’m just wondering.
Joshua
This is the funniest thread I have ever seen on this site. By the way, the apologist’s story about St. Pius X is true. It was a custom for Secular Franciscans to wear an external habit, then they went to a scapular and cord that was worn under their clothing. It was not the little scapular as we know it. It was a full scapular, like the ones that you would wear over a tunic and you pinned it down with the cord. That’s the reason for the Holy Father’s question, because the papal cassock is cut like a military coat. It’s very snug. The early cassocks were like house coats. There are still some of those loose ones around.
As to what popes wear to bed or any other time, they have worn whatever is the custom for men in their era. It’s probably more formal today than it was in the past. Bu then again, I have not seen too many popes go hunting these days, which was once a common sport among noblemen. You can’t ride a horse in a cassock, not a breakneck speed. Trust me, I ride and the habit is not functional.
Traditionally, popes who were religious followed the rules and constitutions of their orders. For example, the Dominicans follow the Rule of St. Augustine, they dress like Augustinian Canons, but in white. Pope Pius V wore his egg-white Dominican habit. That’s where the cassock of the same color comes from. His successor was not a consecrated man. He was a secular bishop. Secular clergy do not have habits. Out of respect and affection for St. Pius V, his sucessor wore a cassock of the same shade of white as the Dominican habit and a shoulder cape to mimic the Dominican collar.
Since the current pope is a secular priest, he has no habit. He can wear whatever he wants. In fact, this Holy Father did not wear a cassock or a Roman collar until he became a bishop. We was a professor and dressed like a professor in a shirt and tie. He is said to like sweaters. Bl. John Paul liked shorts and sneakers. In fact, Bl. John Paul would often wear sport shoes when walking, rather than dress shoes. He had a cassock made that did not have a shoulder cape.
It is also true that in the past, consecrated men wore a sleeping habit. This is what St. Benedict was describing in his rule. It’s not the same habit as is worn during the day. It’s really a nightgown that is tied around the waist. It was always the same color as the habit or unbleached white. The reason for that was two-fold. a) religious houses did not have heat. b) most religious men slept in dorms. Some modesty was appropriate. I wore one. They’re very comfortable.
But they cost $130.00. That’s a lot of money in order to look poor while you’re sleeping.
Today, we sleep in cells and many sleep in bedrooms. Secular clergy have never slept in dorms except in college. For all we know, the pope can sleep in his boxers. He doesn’t have a roommie. I bet once upon a time, before heating and AC the popes wore heavy nightshirts in winter and light ones in summer. That’s what other men wore. When did pajamas as we know them, pants and top, become fashionable?
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
