Camille Naredo

Raniero Mancinelli, tailor to the last three popes

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Reuters Wires

Raniero Mancinelli, tailor to the last three popes, is leaving nothing to chance as he prepares the white vestments that could be worn by the new pontiff who is chosen during next week&#x27;s secret conclave.The identity of the next pope remains a mystery until the white smoke emerges from the Sistine Chapel chimney, meaning Mancinelli is preparing small, medium and large versions that can be donned at short notice.&quot;Making these three robes, the day he will go onto the balcony, I think that (one of them) should fit well, nearly well, if not perfectly,&quot; he said, referring to the moment when the new pope appears at St. Peter&#x27;s Basilica.&quot;We just try,&quot; he added, joking that even if the robe is too short, the pope&#x27;s feet won&#x27;t be on view on the balcony.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/4/30/tagle-the-asian-francis-is-papal-contender-1048">READ: Tagle, the &#x27;Asian Francis&#x27;, is papal contender</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/4/30/pietro-parolin-career-diplomat-leading-race-to-be-pope-1043">READ: Pietro Parolin, career diplomat leading race to be pope</a></div>Wearing his trusty tape measure around his neck, Mancinelli said he has not yet been formally commissioned by the Vatican but is busy preparing for the prestige job, working on his sewing machine and hand stitching robes.He has had his tailor&#x27;s shop in the Rome neighborhood of Borgo Pio, close to the Vatican, since 1962 and has come to specialize in clerical attire.&quot;I started as a joke but then I liked it and I did it since,&quot; he said.&quot;Thank God I got to serve many priests throughout the years, monsignors, bishops and many cardinals. Then I also served three popes, making the white robes, (for) John Paul II, Benedict and Francis,&quot; he added.The style of robes worn by Francis reflected his down-to-earth style.&quot;For Francis obviously, (it had to be) not too expensive, not valuable, a normal textile,&quot; he said.&quot;Benedict preferred fabrics more valuable, precious, a little heavier…more beautiful, to be clear,&quot; he added, referring to the German former pope who shocked the world when he resigned in 2013 and died in late 2022.Mancinelli&#x27;s services are in particular demand with cardinals in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis last weekend and the conclave which starts on May 7.He is reluctant to provide new red robes for cardinals at this stage, knowing that one of them will end up wearing the papal white.&quot;Some of them asked for red robes but I refused to do them not because I am arrogant, but because I told them &#x27;Eminence, will you need this red robe? Maybe you need a different color?&#x27;<div>(Production: Marissa Davison, Chiara Rodriquez)</div>

Raniero Mancinelli, tailor to the last three popes, is leaving nothing to chance as he prepares the white vestments that could be worn by the new pontiff who is chosen during next week's secret conclave.

Raniero Mancinelli, tailor to the last three popes, is leaving nothing to chance as he prepares the white vestments that could be worn by the new pontiff who is chosen during next week's secret conclave.

WATCH: Papal tailor readies clerical robes as conclave looms

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WATCH: Papal tailor readies clerical robes as conclave looms

Reuters

Published Apr 30, 2025 08:06 PM PHT

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Raniero Mancinelli

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