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Small, medium or large? Papal tailor keeps his options open
STORY: He’s been the tailor to the last three popes and Raniero Mancinelli is busy preparing the white vestments that could be worn by the next pontiff.With the identity of the new pope remaining a mystery until after the secret conclave, he is preparing small, medium and large versions that can be donned at short notice.“Making these three robes, the day he will go onto the balcony, I think that one of them should fit well, reasonably well, if not perfectly…we just try.”He had not yet been formally commissioned by the Vatican for the job.But his over 60-year-old tailor’s shop in a Rome neighborhood close to the Vatican, has come to specialize in clerical attire.Each Pope wore robes reflective of their own style.“There was no specific request but maybe on the robes fabric, for Francis obviously, it had to be not too expensive, not valuable, a normal fabric. With Benedict it was the opposite. Benedict preferred fabrics more valuable, precious, a little heavier…more beautiful, to be clear.”Mancinelli’s services are in particular demand, with cardinals in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis last weekend and preparing for the conclave that starts on May 7.However he has been reluctant to provide new red robes for the cardinals, as one could be wearing the papal white.