A workshop in Zaragoza is working against the clock to make the garments that Pope Leo XIV will wear during his visit to Spain from June 6 to 12. The commission includes clothing for the Pontiff, cardinals, bishops, and priests who will celebrate Masses in Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Designer Antonio Burillo leads a team putting the finishing touches on thousands of pieces in a workshop that never imagined it would dress a Pope.
Express production with digital patterns and manual sewing 🧵
To meet the deadline, the workshop has combined digital pattern-making with traditional sewing. The designs are adjusted to each cleric's exact measurements using 3D modeling software, reducing errors in cutting fabrics such as linen, cotton, and silk. The final phase is done by hand, with liturgical embroidery following Vatican canons. The team works twelve-hour shifts to deliver the order next week, prioritizing pieces for the large-scale Masses.
The Pope didn't ask for one-size-fits-all, but almost 😅
While the workshop adjusts each cassock and alb, employees joke that the Vatican didn't request ecclesiastical one-size-fits-all, though differences between cardinals are minimal. One tailor commented that the most complex part wasn't the design, but calculating the margins so no bishop looks like a sack of potatoes when raising their arms. That said, no one has yet asked if the Pope prefers wide or fitted sleeves for the post-Mass selfie.