Why does the Pope always wear white? The custom started with Pope St. Pius V (r. 1566-72), a member of the Dominicans, who wanted to retain his Order's habit, which is white.
The pope's coat of arms is displayed on the facade of the Dominican church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. In addition to stating his title as Pontifex Maximus, it also refers to his membership of the Order of Preachers (ORDO PRAEDICATORUM), as the Dominicans were once known. Pope St Pius V, who was canonised in 1712, is buried in the Cappella Sistina, in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
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My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
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May 2022
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