So why does the Pope get to wear a hat in church if it’s bad for men to wear hats in church?
Laymen will remove their hats during the whole service, sine they are not functioning as priest, teacher or ruler.
The Bishop hands off the staff and remove the miter (hat)before he venerates the altar.
He will receive the miter back after the Collect (a.k.a. the Opening Prayer: the short prayer before the reading of the Epistle.).
He will remove the miter when the Alleluia verse before the Gospel begins, after he blesses the deacon or the priest.
He will remove the miter for the profession of faith (Creed).
He will wear the miter for the preparation of the altar, then remove it for the offertory. He will remove the zucchetto (kippah, yarmulke, beanie, whatever) after the Prayer over the Offerings.
He puts the zucchetto on after Communion is complete. He puts the miter back on and receives the staff for the blessing at the end of Mass.
This is the proper way of doing it according to the liturgical books. It all depends on whether his role at that particular time in the Mass is characterized by his authority (preaching, teaching, directing: he wears the hat) or his lowly contrition or petition or adoration (in which case he doesn't wear the hat.)
Congrats, now you know more than 99% of practicing Catholics.
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Lol.
From the Internet: There are many different types of headdress that the Pope can wear.
1. The first is called a Zucchetto. It resembles the yarmulke that the Jewish men wear, and it signifies tonsure. A zucchetto is worn on the back of the head and can be worn by all clerics in the Catholic Church. It is white for the Pope, red for Cardinals, purple for Bishops, and black for priests. Some orders have their own color, for instance the order of Franciscans wear brown zucchettos.
2. The second is called a Mitre. A mitre signifies the teaching authority of the Pope, and can be worn by bishops and certain abbots. This headgear is usually left for any sort of liturgy that the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome, presides at. Otherwise, it is not an every day wear.
There are a few others that are listed below:
3. Papal Ermine - a read hat with a white fringe, meant to take the place of the biretta worn by priests, bishops, and cardinals
4. Papal Tiara - Once took the place of the Mitre at all liturgical events. Has not been used since Pope Paul VI
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Many of the Church's traditions are Judaic traditions. These can be changed at any time since they are not ESSENTIALS of the Catholic Church faith, like FAITH and MORALS are.
Good question.