A bishop's ceremonial hat is called a mitre — the tall, pointed headdress with two peaks and two lappets that he wears at solemn liturgies. But a bishop's wardrobe holds more than one hat: the small zucchetto sits on his head through the whole celebration, and the square biretta appears in choir dress and processions. This guide explains what each headpiece is called, who wears it and when — browse our hand-embroidered bishop mitres and birettas for clergy to see them side by side.
The mitre: the bishop's liturgical hat
The mitre is the headdress a bishop wears when he celebrates or presides solemnly: at pontifical Mass, ordinations, confirmations and processions. It is built from two stiffened panels that rise to two peaks — front and back — with two ribbons called lappets hanging down the back. Mitres come in three traditional grades: the simplex (plain linen or silk), the auriphrygiata (white or gold with modest embroidery) and the pretiosa (richly decorated with goldwork and jewels). The shape and symbolism are covered in detail in our guide to what a mitre is and when a bishop wears it.
The zucchetto: the small skullcap
The zucchetto is the small, round skullcap a bishop wears on his head throughout the liturgy, under the mitre and on its own. Its colour marks the rank: white for the pope, red for cardinals, amaranth (a purple-red) for bishops, and black for abbots and most other clergy. Because it stays on the head, it is the hat you see at every moment of a celebration — the mitre only comes and goes at the appointed points of the rite.
The biretta: the square cap
The biretta is a stiff, square cap with three or four raised corners; the four-cornered version carries a tuft on top. It belongs to choir dress and non-liturgical occasions — processions, blessings and academic ceremonies — rather than to the Mass itself. Clergy wear black birettas, bishops and prelates amaranth, and cardinals red. If you need one for a sacristy, see our collection of birettas for clergy.
Mitre vs zucchetto vs biretta: quick comparison
| Headpiece | What it is | Who wears it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitre | tall, pointed hat with two peaks and lappets | bishops, archbishops, cardinals and abbots; the pope at pontifical liturgies | solemn liturgical celebrations |
| Zucchetto | small round skullcap | pope (white), cardinals (red), bishops (amaranth), abbots and other clergy (black) | worn throughout the liturgy, under the mitre |
| Biretta | square cap with three or four corners | priests (black), bishops and prelates (amaranth), cardinals (red) | choir dress, processions and non-liturgical ceremonies |
Other headwear you may see
Two more pieces sometimes appear next to these. The camauro is a red velvet cap with white fur trim that belongs to the pope's winter dress, and the papal tiara — the triple crown — is no longer worn but remains a symbol of the papacy. In the Eastern churches, bishops and monks wear the klobuk, a tall black headdress with a veil, instead of the biretta. Each of them tells you at a glance where in the Church — and in history — you are standing.
FAQ
What is a bishop's hat called? A bishop's ceremonial hat is called a mitre. For non-liturgical occasions he also wears a zucchetto (skullcap) or a biretta (square cap).
Does a bishop wear the zucchetto under the mitre? Yes — the zucchetto stays on the head throughout the liturgy, and the mitre is placed over it and removed at the appointed moments.
What is the difference between a biretta and a zucchetto? The zucchetto is a soft, round skullcap worn through the liturgy; the biretta is a stiff, square cap worn in choir dress and for processions.
Is it miter or mitre? Both spellings are correct: mitre is the traditional British spelling used in liturgical writing, and miter is the common American form.
Related reading
Go deeper with the full guide to bishop vestments, what a mitre is and when a bishop wears it, is a monsignor higher than a bishop, why Catholic bishops wear gloves, and why a priest wears a biretta.
