The White and Yellow of the Papal Flag 

Elaine Jordan

Recently the Osservatore Romano  ran an article explaining the story behind the white and yellow
colors of the Vatican Flag. The change of colors – from red and yellow to yellow and white has a
beautiful meaning that symbolizes loyalty to the Papacy. 

Before Napoleon’s invasion of the Pontifical States, its flag was bicolor - red and yellow - at times
bearing the tiara and the keys. The Napoleon years, however, were difficult ones for the Holy See,
whose power was constantly being reduced by the French State. In 1797, the French troops had
occupied Rome, seized Pope Pius VI and taken him off to captivity in France, where he died in 1799. 

At the beginning of his reign, Pope Pius VII was at first conciliatory toward Napoleon, signing the
Concordat of 1801 that made many bad concessions to the French government. But relations rapidly
deteriorated as Napoleon made clear his aim to usurp the spiritual as well as temporal authority of
the Pope. In February 1808, he ordered his French General Miollis with 10,000 troops to take and
occupy Rome. One month later the General commanded that the Pontiff’s army should be
incorporated into his own.

Pope Pius VII forcefully resisted this

order. On March 13, 1808, he ordered
that the Vatican troops that remained
loyal to him should replace the Roman
insignia colors with white and yellow
so that they would not be confused
with the pontifical soldiers who
entered under French command,
carrying the red and yellow colors. This
document, sent in writing three days
later to the diplomatic corps, is
considered to be the act creating the

The Vatican flag hangs at the White House for the papal visit
- April 2008
colors of the current flag of Vatican City. 

The story reminds us of the importance of the papal troops that defended both the spiritual and
temporal rights of the Papacy.