What does tradition claim that the Papal Tiara symbolizes?
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| (a) the three major Papal roles - lawgiver, judge, and teacher |
| (b) the sovereign Papal authority over parts of the church - the millitant, the suffering, and the triumphant |
| (c) the spiritual powers of the Pontiff over -teaching, ruling, and sanctifying |
| (d) all of the above, perhaps none of the above |
Your answer was: (a) the three major Papal roles - lawgiver, judge, and teacher. |
Answer: Back in 1954. William Wonneberger, Jr, founder of the Vatican Philatelic Society wrote about the Papal Tiara:
The Papal Tiara or triple crown as it is sometimes called, is a tall headdress of gold cloth ornamented with precious stones, encircled with three coronets and surrounded by a cross. The original tiara consisted of a plain helmet-like cap of white material and was provided with its first circle about 1136 A.D. The second was added during the Pontificate of Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303). The earliest representation of the tiara with three crowns is found on the effigy of Pope Benedict who died in 1342. The tiara's earliest name Camelaucum (made of camel's hair would indicate it was of Byzantine origin and was probably adopted by the Popes from the Byzantine court headdress, the Kamelaukion.
Tradition claims that the Papal Tiara symbolizes the three major roles of the Pope - lawgiver, judge, and teacher. A second story passed through the ages claims it represents the sovereign authority of the Pope over the three churches - militant, suffering, and triumphant. Still a third version claims the Papal Tiara symbolizes the three spiritual powers of the Pontiff - teaching, ruling, and sanctifying. The real meaning of the Crown of the Pope may never be known as its origin is lost in the veils of antiquity.
The papal tiara is a crown that was worn by Popes of the Catholic Church from as early as the 8th century to the mid-20th.
Reference
• William Wonneberger, "The Vatican Postage Stamps" National Philatelic Museum Volumn 7 Number 1 page 61 (This publication was produced for the 1954 Marian Year Philatelic Exhibition held in Philadelphia September 22 - November 5, 1954.)
• Papal tiara, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_tiara
Coronation of Pope Pius XII
Scott # 68-71 (1939)
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