By Estefanía Medina
Rome, May 1 (EFE).- At 86 years old, Raniero Mancinelli, the master tailor who has dressed the last three popes, is already preparing the next papal garments ahead of the conclave that begins on May 7 to choose Pope Francis’ successor.
Inside his renowned Roman shop, some 300 meters (328 yards) from the Vatican walls, Mancinelli is handcrafting three different-seized papal vestments in anticipation of the new pontiff.
“I’m preparing three sizes so that one will fit whoever is elected,” he told EFE.
Mancinelli, who opened his boutique “Mancinelli Clero” in the Borgo Pio neighborhood in 1962, dressed Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis I.
Over the years, his workshop has become a fixture for clergy and cardinals seeking expertly made cassocks and vestments crafted entirely by hand.
“Welcome, as you can see, we’re very busy these days,” he says.
The surge in demand stems from the upcoming conclave, which will gather 133 cardinals in Rome.
Many are seeking new attire, including sashes, skullcaps, and collars, to be properly outfitted for the solemn gathering.
“There are so many requests I’ve lost count,” Mancinelli explains.
“Cardinals are coming in for last-minute fittings. Some need a new sash, others a zucchetto, some are missing the collar. Everyone wants to be ready.
The family business, now run with help from his daughter and grandson, is operating at full speed.
Priests and cardinals try on garments and examine themselves in mirrors, while pilgrims browse rosaries, crucifixes, and liturgical souvenirs, especially as Rome anticipates up to 30 million visitors for the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Hope, held every 25 years.
With a measuring tape draped around his neck and needles in his shirt pocket, Mancinelli works with precision and remarkable energy, measuring, cutting, and tailoring with great care and speed.
Though focused on preparing for the next pope, he fondly recalls Pope Francis.
“He was very simple, easily satisfied, and didn’t want anything fancy,” he says. “Modest and cheerful. I had a wonderful relationship with him, he was warm, smiling, and had great taste.”
As the Vatican prepares for a new chapter, Mancinelli continues to stitch his legacy into the fabric of Church history, one garment at a time. EFE
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