Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Coat of Arms

Pope drops papal crown from coat of arms, adds miter, pallium

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The papal crown has been given the boot once again, this time no longer appearing as part of the new pope's coat of arms.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dispensed with the image of the three-tiered tiara that traditionally appeared at the top of each pope's coat of arms and replaced it with the pointed miter.

The former pope also added the pallium, the woolen stole symbolizing a bishop's authority, to the elements surrounding the shield.

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