"Room of Tears" - one of the most intimate places in the Vatican ready for the new Pope

In the heart of the Vatican, right next to the Sistine Chapel, there is a place that, although unknown to most, plays a key role in the election of a new pope. It is in the so-called "Room of Tears" that the newly elected Holy Father puts on the white cassock for the first time, symbolizing his new role.

The "Room of Tears" is a small sacristy adjacent to the Sistine Chapel. The name of this place comes from the emotions that accompany the newly elected Pope - many of them cannot hold back tears of emotion and a sense of great responsibility. It is here, in an intimate atmosphere, that the Cardinal accepts his new identity as the Bishop of Rome.

In the "Room of Tears" three white cassocks in small, medium and large sizes await the new Pope. These sets are prepared by the Gammarelli family tailoring studio, which has been sewing clerical attire since 1798 and dressing popes since the 19th century. Each cassock has 33 buttons , symbolizing the years of Jesus' life, and is finished with silk cuffs . The set includes a red velvet cape trimmed with white fur, a skullcap, a belt and red leather shoes , symbolizing readiness for martyrdom.

The Gammarelli workshop, located near the Pantheon , is known for its precise craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each cassock is hand-sewn from the finest Italian materials, such as white wool and silk . It takes at least 20 hours of painstaking work to make one cassock.

Once the new pope has donned his chosen cassock, he returns to the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals pray for him. Meanwhile, outside, crowds of the faithful await the official announcement of the election. White smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the ringing of the bells of the Vatican Basilica announce to the world that the pope has been elected.

A moment later, the Cardinal Protodeacon steps out onto the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica and proclaims the famous "Habemus Papam" , after which the new Pope appears to the world for the first time in his white cassock.

The "Room of Tears" remains a place full of symbolism and emotion, where history meets spirituality and tradition meets new beginnings.