He has a personal memory of Benedict XVI, an encounter, but he keeps it for himself.
"I could never do this kind of work if I weren't a believer."
Filippo Sorcinelli, originally from Mondolfo, in the Marche region, is a multifaceted artist and an internationally renowned organist.
Founder of the Lavs atelier, Laboratorio Atelier Vesti Sacre, in 2007 he was called by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations, which oversees the direction of the liturgies of the popes, to design the sacred vestments for the apostolic visit to Genoa by Pope Benedict XVI.
Ratzinger "with absolute humility made me understand what faith is deep down", he told ANSA.
Sorcinelli designed the liturgical vestments for the liturgy of two popes: Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
"Our proposal is that of an accuracy of the details that refer to medieval stylistic elements up to touching some glimmers of the Renaissance", he explains.
The experience that began 15 years ago was "the sign of my artistic career. It is an honor but also a great gratification".
Pope Benedict XVI "has always been a guardian of faith and tradition which always go hand in hand in the Catholic Church", he adds.
"His intellectualism is none other than the profound research that a Christian must have in order to live an experience of solid faith. Anyone who has the search for faith at heart cannot ignore traditions. A pope must dress like a pope".
The red shoes, from the artisan workshop of Adriano Stefanelli, the dusting off of some hats that had gone into disuse in the papal wardrobe have caused a stir over the years "because Benedict XVI is a shy person", concludes Sorcinelli.
"Even John Paul II used shoes and a red cloak. Things that describe a role and continuity in faith and witness also through what one wears".