ANSWER by Q & A Staff on December 3, 2001

Dear Dean Mitres as a head covering first appeared in Roman times. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "the mitre was first used at Rome about the middle of the tenth century, and outside of Rome about the year 1000". On the subject of pontifical, as opposed to mere episcopal, mitres, the same article says "it is derived from a non-liturgical head-covering distinctive of the pope, the camelaucum, to which also the tiara is to be traced. The camelaucum was worn as early as the beginning of the eighth century, as is shown by tho biography of Pope Constantine I (708- 815) in the "Liber Pontificalis"." For more information on the subject of mitres, the reader is referred to the above quoted article Catholic Encyclopedia: Mitres Thanks Dean God bless,