the pope vs the wind

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As popes frequently address large crowds in open-air settings, they—like everyone else—have to deal with capricious weather.

Papal attire usually includes a skull cap (zucchetto) and small capes, either a white pellegrina or a red mozzetta—all very susceptible to gusts of wind.

Over the years, photographers have captured many moments when the wind has swept away the Pope’s headgear or momentarily wrapped his mantle around his head.

A gust of wind blows Pope Francis’s mantle during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on November 5, 2014.

Pope Francis loses his zucchetto to a gust of wind in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on October 22, 2014.

Pope Benedict XVI fights the wind as he reads a prayer on Stephansplatz before a mass in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna on September 9, 2007.

A gust of wind lifts the zucchetto from Pope Francis’s head in St. Peter’s Square on May 20, 2015, at the Vatican.

A gust of wind lifts the drape with the Vatican’s symbol as Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing during his weekly Angelus prayer, from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican on November 15, 2009.

A priest tries to grab Pope Francis’s skull cap after a gust of wind blew it off in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on May 20, 2015.

A gust of wind blows Pope Francis’s mantle as he arrives to lead his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on February 19, 2014.

Pope Benedict XVI is surprised by a gust of wind as he addresses some 2,000 student priests at the Church of St. Pantaleon in Cologne, Germany, on August 19, 2005.

Pope Benedict XVI's skull cap is blown away by a gust of wind in St. Peter’s Square on May 24, 2008.

A gust of wind blows Pope Francis’s pellegrina while he gives Mass to thousands of youths on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on July 25, 2013.

A gust of wind takes Pope Francis’s skull cap upon his arrival at the airport in Quito, Ecuador, on July 5, 2015.

Wind wraps Pope Francis’s pellegrina around his head as he arrives in St. Peter’s Square on May 14, 2014.

Wind blows Pope Benedict XVI’s cloak over his face as he is greeted by Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, left, in Arezzo, Italy, on May 13, 2012.

A gust of wind lifts Pope Francis' scull cap on Nov. 5, 2012.

Pope Francis turns to see his skull cap blowing away in the wind as he leaves at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican on April 30, 2014.

Pope Benedict XVI reacts as heavy wind blows his cape into his face after his arrival at Cologne’s airport on August 18, 2005.

Wind billows Pope Francis’s pellegrina as he leaves St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on June 12, 2013.