Petrine claims

The Lion And The Cardinal recently had this picture of one of the less well known Papal tiaras. and I thought I would share it to mark the Feast of SS Peter and Paul.

It was presented to Pope Pius IX in 1871 by the ladies of the royal court of Belgium to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his coronation, and was made by Jean Baptiste Bethume of Ghent.

• Upper crown inscribed: IESV CHRISTI VICARIO INFALLIBILI - To The Infallible Vicar of Jesus Christ.
• Middle crown inscribed: ORBIS SVPREMO IN TERRA RECTORI - To the Supreme Governor of the World on Earth
• Lower crown inscribed: REGUM ATQVE POPVLORVM PATRI - To the Father of Nations and Kings.
  

In recent year this tiara has been shown in various exhibitions around the world. Personally I think this one of the least attractive of the surviving Papal tiaras, but it is an interesting example of the genre.

And, just in case you feel you need to ask - of course I am in favour of the restoration of the use of the Papal tiara.