The Spanish Queen is one of the few royal Catholic women with the "privilege of white"
NEED TO KNOW
- Queen Letizia of Spain wore white to an audience with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City, and she one of just seven women in the world permitted to do so
- The “privilege of white” allows a group of royal Catholic women to wear white clothing during papal visits, rather than the traditional black
- Letizia and her husband, King Felipe of Spain, met with the pontiff ahead of a visit to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome
Queen Letizia of Spain didn’t break with tradition when she wore a white dress to an audience with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City on Friday, March 20, though she is one of less than a dozen women in the world permitted to do so.
The rare Vatican privilege allows a group of royal Catholic women to wear white clothing during papal visits rather than the traditional black. Only seven women in the world hold the "privilege of white”: Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia of Spain; Queen Mathilde and Queen Paola of Belgium; Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg; and Princess Charlene of Monaco.
Women are traditionally expected to wear formal black clothing and a lace or silk veil over their heads and shoulders during audiences with the pontiff, signifying modesty and humility. Second Lady Usha Vance wore the traditional garb during Pope Leo’s inaugural mass in May, as did First Lady Melania Trump during a visit to the Vatican in 2017, during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Women granted the privilege of wearing white before the pontiff will not always choose to do so: Princess Charlene opted for black during Pope Francis’s inaugural mass in 2013. There is also some room for flexibility. Queen Letizia, for instance, chose not to wear the traditional mantilla over her head during her most recent visit to the Vatican.
Queen Letizia and her husband, King Felipe of Spain, met with Pope Leo XIV on Friday ahead of their visit to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, where the King formally assumed the title of Protocanon of the Chapter of the Liberian Basilica, an ancient privilege with longstanding ties to the Spanish monarchy.
The Spanish royals were received in a private audience in the Apostolic Palace, according to the Holy See Press Office, and also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
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“During the cordial talks, which took place at the Secretariat of State, appreciation was expressed for the good relations between the Holy See and Spain, which will reach a significant milestone in the Holy Father’s forthcoming Apostolic Journey,” the Holy See said in a statement on Friday, March 20, referencing Pope Leo’s scheduled six-day visit to Spain in June. “In this context, reference was made to a number of current issues concerning the situation in the country and the Church’s mission in society.”
"Finally, attention turned to some topics of a regional and international nature, highlighting the importance of constant commitment in support of peace and the reinforcement of the principles and values that underpin international coexistence."
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