Gear up at Gricigliano

Since September Mgr. Wach and gang are in choir habit. They are sporting a black mantelletta with blue lining, a blue mozzetta and around their neck the "Cross of St. Francis Sales". The mozzettas of the superiors are silk, the mozzetta of the Superior General is watered-silk, as you can see on the photo. This leads directly to the question: How long before the super-special privilege will be taken (erm, granted) and the blue watered-silk cappa magna is allowed to come out and play?

BTW: Anybody else notices, how the bishops and cardinals coming to Gricigliano don't seem to be wearing the cappa anymore? What's going on?

Beat this!

I raise you a Wojtyla in watered silk. Supposedly this photo was taken in 1978 (obviously before Oct. 16th). I don't know the occasion, because the caption is in Russian and mine is kind of non-existent. Still: Karol Kardinal Wojtyla does look good in the cappa magna, doesn't he?

Update: It always helps to know people who REALLY know their stuff. A faithful reader send me this information: I doubt it's 78. Look, the bishop in the background (Wladyslaw Rubin, later prefect of the Oriental Congregation) is in a mantelletta with a pectoral cross over top. Not allowed after 69. Also, the bishop in the grecca is Cassarolli. He was the perpetual envoy to E. Europe. I suspect it was taken between 67 and 68, likely 67, shortley after he had been made cardinal.

Thanks A.!