Epiphany

Homily
Click on the word "Homily" above to listen to this Sundays homily.

The readings can be found at the USCCB official website.

Why do we do that? Why does the Pope wear white

The tradition (important to note this is a little "t" tradition, which means it is not something infallible or unchangeable, it is just something we have done for a while) of the Holy Father wearing a white cassock has origins as far back as Pope Pius V in 1566. Some will argue Pope's were seen in white before this date, but most scholars will say this was when the shift took place in a more definitive way.
Pope Pius V was a Dominican priest before he was elevated to the chair of Peter. Dominicans can be found wearing white habit and thus when he was elected he chose not to change his habit.
While there is a practical origin to the pope wearing white we can also draw a spiritual understanding as well. We long for good, moral role models in our world and the Holy Father, while not perfect by any means is one we are grateful we can look at as such. Thus his white cassock reflects the purity of Christ, what we were clothed in at our baptism.