Pope Benedict XVI betrayed his fondness for red hats again on Wednesday by showing up for his weekly general audience here in a large crimson creation designed to keep the sun off .
German-born Benedict, who turns 80 next April, has a liking for traditional papal head wear .
Last winter, he resurrected the use of the 'camauro', a red velvet hat with white fur trimming which was last worn in public by John XXIII .
Wednesday's broad-brimmed hat was reminiscent of the so-called 'saturno' (Saturn) model again favoured by John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 .
For the last general audience before Christmas, Benedict delighted onlookers by sporting a camauro and a red cape which left him looking like a clean-shaven Santa Claus. The papal camauro dates back to the 12th century and was used to protect the popes from the cold .
