The mantum was essentially a large cope, with an oversized clip called a morse. The above photo illustrates how it was draped over the faldstool kneeler when a pope knelt in prayer. It was always held up by attendants when the popes walked.
Vestments reserved exclusively for the Roman Pontiffs are symbolic of the global reach of the Petrine office, papal authority and its spiritual ministrations. The mantum was always white or red. It was used for the most solemn occasions, including processions such as Palm Sunday. Popes John XXIII and Paul VI donned it for solemn occasions at Vatican Council II such as the opening and closing of the sessions.
Cardinal Deacons held up and carried the front bottom corner of the mantum when the popes walked so as to help prevent him from tripping over the vestment. It was also held up in the rear similarly in order to prevent it from dragging on the pavement and collecting dust while getting soiled.
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| The difference between a cope and a mantum |
The main goal of the mantum was not just that it made the popes look taller and larger and more imposting than they actually were. A larger than life vestment, it was reserved to the Holy Father for another more deeper meaning.
In the eleventh and twelfth centuries the immantatio, or bestowal of the mantum on the newly elected pope was regarded as specially symbolical of the newly elected pope's investiture with papal authority. Thus the main purpose of the mantum was that it was a symbol of the Pope's authority and universal jurisdiction.
The words that were used in conferring the mantum are rich with symbolism: "I invest you with the Roman papacy, that you may rule over the city and the world."
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| A morse on Cardinal Tisserant's cope |
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| As the Cardinal Archpriest, Cardinal Tisserant wears an oversized Papal Chapel cope, but it is not a mantum |
