 Flabella were originally used liturgically in the West as well as the East, but they fell into disuse for the Mass in the Latin Church about the fourteenth century.Apart from the foregoing liturgical uses, a flabellum, in the shape of a fan, later of an umbrella or canopy, was used as a mark of honour for bishops and princes.Prior to Vatican II, two fans of this kind were used at the Vatican whenever the pope was carried in state on the sedia gestatoria to or from an altar or audience-chamber.