Proud nuns sew 200 silk robes for Pope Francis’ visit to Thailand, tailored in brilliant golds, reds and yellows

The head of the Catholic Church is visiting Thailand for four days, and a Bangkok convent is outfitting the whole papal entourage

It will be the first visit by a pope to the country in nearly 40 years, and offers a chance for the sisters to show off their intricate embroidery skills

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Thai seamstresses work on religious vestments at the Praharuthai Convent in Bangkok ahead of the visit of Pope Francis and his entourage to Thailand. Photo: AFP/Romeo Gacad

Published: 8:30am, 15 Nov 2019Updated: 8:30am, 15 Nov 2019

Sewing machines whirr in a Bangkok convent as workers feverishly finish silk robes in brilliant golds and reds, made especially for Pope Francis and his entourage who are visiting Thailand this month. The whirlwind November 20 to 23 trip will see the head of the Catholic Church meet top officials, host masses and visit the Catholic faithful in the Buddhist-majority country.

Seamstresses at the Praharuthai Convent in Bangkok are working hard ahead of the trip to ensure Pope Francis and his bishops, deacons and priests are decked out in the country’s finest tailoring.

“I feel happy and very proud that our convent has been selected to do this most honourable job,” said Sister Sukanya, who oversees the tailoring.

She and her team of about a dozen seamstresses have been working long days for two months on the more than 200 robes, many stacked neatly in the convent next to handmade hats.

A Thai seamstress works on a silk cloth embroidered with the Vatican emblem. Photo: Romeo Gacad/AFP

The two most important pieces – two matching robes for the pontiff – are ready to go, displayed proudly side-by-side on a pair of mannequins.