09 March 2013

Lentorama 2013: There's a Name for That

Day 22: sedia gestatoria

This ceremonial throne was basically a large sedan chair, with the pope being carried aloft by a dozen footmen. Over time its use became more limited, going from a regular conveyance to use in ceremonial functions, but it didn't fall into disuse until John Paul II (John Paul I originally didn't want to ride in it, but Vatican staff talked him into it, the Curia strikes again). From JP2 forward we've traded this in for the Popemobile, which is win-win when you consider the pope gets a more modern vehicle and we get to use the term Popemobile.

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