Tiara of Pope John Paul II

Papal tiara of John Paul II on medal

The Tiara of Pope John Paul II, known also as the Hungarian Tiara, is a Papal tiara donated to Pope John Paul II in 1981. Popes starting from John Paul I never wore this or any other tiara.

Details

There are no details as to exactly who in Hungary (either the state, the Catholic Church in Hungary, a diocese or an individual) donated the tiara, though one anti-Catholic website stated that the Hungarian tiara was a gift from "the people of Hungary" (Previous papal tiaras were often given in the name of a country or organisation, despite these having been paid for and chosen by private individuals or organisations). Though rumoured to exist, it was only in the 21st century that its existence was confirmed when photographs of the tiara were published.

Photographs suggest that this tiara, unlike most of those in the papal collection, features no lappets.

Use and location

As no pope has worn a papal tiara since Pope Paul VI and later Pope John Paul II made the practice optional, the Hungarian Tiara remains unworn. It is also unconfirmed as to whether it is currently in the Papal Sacristy in the Vatican alongside the other papal tiaras. Photographs do however show it displayed in the distinctive form used by the Papal Sacristy to display its collection of papal tiaras.^[1]

Notes

1. Papal Tiaras displayed by the Vatican are photographed on a distinct display base on a grey or blue background. Images in the media, and later images on the internet (see one above) show the Hungarian Tiara displayed in that exact format. No papal tiaras outside the property of the Vatican (with the sole exception of the Tiara of Pope Paul VI on display at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC) ever use that format.