In the Catholic Church, a Italian: '''caudatario''' from la|cauda|tail – plural it|caudatari|train-bearer, was a priest in charge of carrying the train (strascico in Romanesco) [1] of the cassock or the cappa magna of a prelate (cardinals, archbishops and bishops) during solemn ceremonies.[2]
The use of robes with trains, capes and hoods for cardinals was introduced by Pope Nicholas III .[3] Since this would hinder their movement, the need arose to have an assistant, first a layman, later a religious, to hold the train of the cardinal's cassock.[4] During the Avignon Papacy, the use of a caudatario spread among the minor prelates, such as the archbishops and bishops.[4]
In 1546, Pope Paul III transformed the association of the caudatari into a collegio.
In 1538, Pope Paul III gave the custody of the small church of Santa Maria della Purità in the Roman rione of Borgo to the association of caudatari.[2] They maintained the church until 1897, when it was abandoned.[5]
At the beginning chaplain and Caudatario of a cardinal were two distinct figures, but then they merged into one.[4] During the cardinal and papal solemn masses the caudatario was sitting next to the cardinal, holding his cap and reminding him what he had to do.[6] The cardinal's vestments and furnishings were to be prepared by the caudatario to celebrate Mass in his domestic chapel, and to celebrate Mass itself.[6]
When the cardinals used the mitre, the caudatari wore a violet cape, and above it a white stole one palm wide, knee-length and ending in a golden fringe.[7] For papal functions the crush was also purple, of woven fabric with wide and short sleeves and purple silk linings, and with a cape with a hood.[7] One side of the hood had a pocket to hold the cardinal's breviary.[7] Pope Paul V (r. 1605-21) added a purple skirt with black buttons and a sash with purple bows.[7] On 30 November 1952, with the motu proprio Valde solliciti, pope Pius XII (r. 1939-58) shortened by half the train of the cardinals' cloaks [8] (first 12 meters, today 6) and the decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites of 4 December 1952, also shortened the bishops' cloaks by half (first 7 meters, today 3.5). John XXIII (r. 1958-63) restored the meters of the Cardinals' cloak to 12 meters and the bishop's cloak to 7 meters after the reform of Pius XII.