Very few of the chasubles worn by Pope John Paul II were used during the Pontificate of Benedict XVI. Amongst the reasons for this is that Pope Benedict was a man of smaller stature than his predecessor and that many of those chasubles were too ample for comfort. An exception is this lovely chasuble, which was occasionally worn by Pope Benedict and which had been presented to John Paul II. Not only is the pendant orphrey beautifully embroidered, but embroideries pepper the entire vestment. In these photographs, Pope Benedict is wearing an interesting mitre, ornamented richly with the applique and precious stones and based closely on a mediaeval mitre.
