Yes, the Pope Has a Dress Code Even Presidents and Royals Must Follow
Black lace is customary when visiting the Vatican, but who gets to wear white lace?
By KATIE ROBINSON
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Suppose you're meeting the Pope. What do you wear? It's a critical question governed by millennia of tradition. While the Vatican has recently loosened its rules about casual clothing, today the First Lady and Ivanka chose to abide by the traditional guidelines. At one time, what you wore depended both on your own faith and on the forum of your visit. For instance, while a black lace veil was considered traditional for most during a visit to the Vatican, Catholic queens wore white lace. As expectations started to waiver, some simply chose to veto the veil and sport an all-black outfit. And when meeting the Pope at the White House or the airport—or pretty much any other place in the world—black (or white) has never been necessary. Here is a visual history of all the presidents and royals who have dressed for their visit with the pontif.
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1
Ivanka Trump
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At the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, 2017, wearing a traditional black lace veil.
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2
Melania Trump
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Meeting with Pope Francis in customary Vatican apparel.
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3
First Lady and President Trump
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Visiting the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, 2017.
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4
Queen Silvia of Sweden
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Shaking Pope Francis's hand at the Vatican, 2016.
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5
Princess Charlene of Monaco
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The Catholic royal met Pope Francis in Vatican City in 2016.
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6
Angelina Jolie
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With Pope Francis at the Vatican, 2015.
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7
Barack and Michelle Obama
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Waving to the crowd with Pope Francis from the White House, 2015.
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8
Michelle & Barack Obama
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Meeting a very young Pope during the White House Halloween celebration, 2015.