Designer picks simple fabric, Cypriot symbols for Pope’s vestments

Dec 03, 2021

BEIRUT: The Lebanese designer for Pope Francis’ vestments for Mass in Cyprus chose simple fabric and symbols that figure prominently in the island nation.

In his research on Cyprus for the design of the papal vestments, Maged Bou Tanous discovered that olives, wheat and copper figured prominently. Cyprus was once a noted producer of copper.

The intertwining of olive branches and shafts of wheat in Bou Tanous’ design form a half-moon shape on the front and back of Pope Francis’ vestments for the December 3 Mass in Nicosia. Copper thread replaces the gold thread typically used for vestments.

The half-moon shape, Bou Tanous explained, represents “open hands to receive all people - from the East and the West.”

In the centre of the “open hands” on the front stands the cross, alone.

“For me, the cross symbolises the island of Cyprus in the middle of the sea,” Bou Tanous said.

On the back of the vestment, the “open hands” surround an image of a lamb on the Bible, symbolising Pope Francis as the disciple of Christ, Bou Tanous said.

The designer chose silk crepe from Morocco for the vestments.

“It’s a simple, plain fabric,” he said, unlike damask and brocade from which vestments are often designed.

“I know the style of the Pope. He prefers simple things, simple embroidery,” he explained.

Maronite Catholic officials from Cyprus contacted Bou Tanous with the request to design Pope Francis’ vestments for the Dec 2-4 visit to the Mediterranean island. It is the Lebanese designer’s fourth project for Pope Francis; the first was the vestments for the Pope’s Easter Monday Mass in 2016. -- CNS