For several decades, a tailor from Rome has made the white sutana that the new popes take immediately after they are elected, but this time the competition begins to make their presence felt, writes AFP on Monday.
The tailors from Gammarelli traditionally prepared three outfits -short, medium and long -but announced that, this time, the Vatican asked them not to create them, notes Agerpres.
A few hours before the cardinal entrance to the Sistine chapel to choose Pope Francis's successor, the rival Reniero Mancinelli took the opportunity to propose his products.
“I have to deliver them today or tomorrow … It has to be ready before the conclave to be used if it will be needed,” said Raniero Mancinelli on Monday, 86 years old.
He has already made clothes for several popes in the past, but has never had the honor to create the first outfit, worn when the new pope addresses the public from the Balcony of Saint Peter.
He manually makes light wool, white belts and capables that must be delivered to the Vatican before the Conclav, which will start on Wednesday.
Raniero Mancinelli produces them in three sizes, so as to adapt to all types of physical dimensions.
Its are “small, medium and large”, to adapt to body weight rather than to height, because the length will not be visible when the Sovereign Pontiff will appear for the first time in front of the public.
According to a disclosure made by Lorenzo Gammarelli for AFP last week, the tailors of his workshop, a family company, were prepared to create the three hundred, according to tradition, but the Vatican announced that there is no need to do so.
He assumed that the vestments of the new Pope will be “the remaining ones from the previous conclavs, because we made three hundred and they used only one.”
But Raniero Mancinelli, a tailor who has been working 70 years in his historic store in Borgo Pio, two steps from Vatican, hopes that the situation will be different.
Last -moment commands
Although the Vatican did not ask him to make the Sutans, he knows his job very well and worked for seven popes.
“I produce and offer them to the Vatican if they could be used by the new Pope,” he said.
“If I use my clothes, I will be very happy,” added the Italian tailor.
Raniero Mancinelli, who also takes bishops, priests and seminarians, is overwhelmed by the last -minute orders before the conclave.
“Some cardinals need a belt, a cap, a collar … I take care of it!” He revealed.
Originally from the Marche region in the center of Italy, he came to work in this profession by accident, after one day he proposed to make the Vatican.
His workshop is full of photos of his and some popes. He personally made the sutans carried by the last three popes, including Pope Francis.
Ecclesiasticals from all over the world come to see him during their visits to Rome. Some of them became friends. Others have climbed the steps of the Catholic hierarchy.
According to Raniero Mancinelli, the former Pope Francis was not one of his ordinary customers, but maybe he went through his store at one time or another, before he was chosen as a pope.
“With all these priests, bishops and cardinals who come and who leave, it is difficult to remember each of them,” added the Italian tailor.
The Vatican completely interrupts the mobile networks during the conclave for choosing Pope Francis's successor
