They should really bring black back for requiems.
anon | 10.20.06 - 7:38 pm | #

I was actually wondering about the vestment color...do cardinals get a special exception for red, or is this a gaffe?
Nicholas | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:11 pm | #

They all wore red at John paul II's funeral,including the presiding Cardinal Ratzinger.
beth v. | 10.21.06 - 10:19 pm | #

I'm guessing that red is worn as it symbolizes a Cardinal's promise to, if necessary, shed his blood for the Church and for the faith -- the color of martyrdom, so to speak. John Paul the Beloved was, incidentally, also dressed in red vestments throughout his wake and funeral.
L | 10.22.06 - 9:57 pm | #

This is a belated comment...I don't know if you were ever aware of it, but last autumn, the Italian blogs and online 'columns' more or less identified Cardinal Pompedda as the author/leaker of the so-called 'secret Conclave diary'.
MARIA-TERESA MANUEL; | 10.23.06 - 5:41 pm | #

IIRC, even in the old rite, the Pope doesn't wear black vestments. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
ThePerpetualMalcontent | 10.27.06 - 3:00 am | #