“A sobriety of language and presence” – this is how Filippo Sorcinelli describes Pope Francisthat he has quietly dressed since the first days of his pontificate.
The stylist of the Marche region is the founder of Lavs WorkshopAcronym of the Laboratorio Arte Sacre, which has been working for more than twenty years with the office of liturgical celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.
Sorcinelli, the 49 -year -old man specializing in liturgical clothing, made some of the most important dresses of the Ministry of Pope Francis, including those carried during his historic pontificate inauguration, broadcast worldwide in 2013.
Even during the last land trip of Pope Francis, the visual language of its papacy remained intact. The miter that adorned it was made by workshop lavas: a white silk leaf hairstyle cut into traditional gold – a symbol chosen but radiant with continuity, purity and timeless beauty.
But, in accordance with the wishes of the pontiff, nothing new has been created for the occasion. The chasuble came from the existing wardrobe of the papal sacristy. Even the miter was already used, highlighting humility on the show.
Inspired by medieval art to reflect the Pope's soul
The creations of Sorcinelli for Pope Francis have always respected the desire of the pontiff of simplicity and euphemism, featuring sober cuts and a subtle symbolism and avoiding any form of ostentation.
During the design of pontiff's dresses, Sorcinelli explained that he considered the origins of Pope Francis, far from the sumptuous liturgies of Central Europe. He sought a more essential visual language, inspired by the medieval fresco cycles of Giotto, in particular those of Assisi, which express a tangible and direct spirituality.
“My task was to visually tell a pontificate which has always sought to build bridges, not barriers. His dresses had to speak the language of the meeting,” explains Sorcinelli.
For Pope Francis, the dress has never been a symbol of power, but a sign of service and humility. Far from the baroque clothes of other popes, he has always preferred simple lines and natural materials.
In this sense, the workshop lavas have captured not only the ceremonial requirements of the papal role, but also the deeper spirit of a pope who, through each gesture – and even his clothes – sought to bring the gospel to the heart of the church.
A story of twenty years of prestige
Sorcinelli grew up in a family of weavers and embroiderers in Jesi, developing a deep passion for fine threads and old weaving techniques from an early age.
He founded his workshop in 2002, after studying sacred art and historical weaving at the Museo del Tessuto in Prato, in order to combine the richness of the Italian liturgical tradition with contemporary language, composed of precious natural materials and handmade embroidery.
Over the years, the workshop has become a reference point for bishops and cardinals of the main European dioceses, for religious orders such as the Benedictines of Subiaco or Capuchin Friars Minor, as well as for solemn employers' festivals of cities such as Assii, Ravenna and Padua.
Sorcinelli also organized tailor -made clothes for the Diplomatic delegations of the Vatican visiting Latin America and Asia.
His work did not go unnoticed: in 2018, the Diocesan Museum of Milan organized a retrospective dedicated to the workshop, and in 2021, the Pontifical Liturgical Institute awarded Sorcinelli the price of art and the liturgy for innovation in the field of sacred remains.
