WILL POPE LEO XIV EVER PUT ON THE FANNON? ONLY IF ONE OF HIS HOLINESS’ MC’S PUTS IT OUT FOR HIM INCLUDING SOME NICE TRADITIONAL PAPAL VESTMENTS….

 I might be wrong, but I don’t think St. Pope John Paul II ever wore the fannon except for one occasion. But of course, back then there weren’t iPhone cameras that captured every moment of every public experience of the pope and immediately placed on the internet. 

For example, the first time Pope Benedict XVI wore the fannon for an outdoor Mass, I was the first blogger in the world, the first reporter to notice it and put is on my blog, the first, you read that correctly! 

And what a firestorm it caused!

But when St. Pope John Paul II put it on, I never knew the backstory until now. I discovered it in the comment section of Fr. Z’s blog. Interesting, no?

And here is the backstory from a commenter at the Fr. Z blog:

I lived for a while with a papal MC who was rector of S. Cecilia in Trastevere. When JP2 came, he put out the fanon and JP2 put it on, MUCH to the consternation of the head MC, an Irishman. There is a precious photo of JP2 procession and McGee looking straight into the lens with a huge glare. The rector brought out all the most magnificent gear including dalmatic and tunic for the Pontiff. Alas, no maniple.