This morning I was doing a quick review of Catholic news from the past week, looking for stories I might have missed or neglected. I came across this tidbit from Francis X. Rocca, the Vatican correspondent for Religion News Service, reporting on the release of The Light of the World, Pope Benedict's a book-length interview with German journalist Peter Seewald.
Recalling the excitement that greeted his appearance in December 2005 wearing a red-and-white cap called a camauro, which some observers said made the pope resemble Santa Claus, Benedict denied any intention to make a fashion statement.
"I was just cold, and I happen to have a sensitive head," Benedict says. "I haven't put it on again since. In order to forestall over-interpretation."