Respect is something so deeply ingrained in the Catholic Church, and with the pope being its visible head worldwide, public figures are always required to follow a specific dress code when meeting with him — with the exception of seven women.
Traditionally, long black dresses with long sleeves, a high neckline, and a black mantilla (also known as a lace or silk veil), are mandatory for women who meet the pope.
But a select few have been granted le privilège du blanc “the privilege of the white,” where certain designated female royalty are allowed to wear white clothing, such as a white dress and white veil, during an audience with the head of the Catholic Church.
