From the introtion to the first mass of Leone XIV: the papal tiara, the pallium and the pill of the fisherman. Symbols and meanings of the rite

ROME – Once upon a time it was said « intonization », Now it is the Pontificate Start Mass: Sunday 18 at 10 in St. Peter’s Square will be a solemn ceremony, in front of many powerful of the earth: the last (for now) to have confirmed their presence are the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen e Prince Edoardo of England. But there will be 200 foreign delegations, including the Royal of Spain, the Vice -President of the USA Vance, the Argentine president Milei and the Israeli Herzog. There should also be the Ukrainian President Zelensky that, according to him, « probably » will see Pope Leone XIV.

It will be an imposing rite, load of symbols and meanings which has its roots in the over 2 thousand years of the history of the Church. Because in its now small state, the Pope is in a certain sense still a king: This is why there is talk of « intonization ». The first pope to be crowned was Niccolò i in 858, the last one, in 1963, Paul VI: the ceremony consisted, as well as in the intake of power and the pontifical authority (which today is in practice only spiritual) in wearing the papal tiara, which was also called « triregno ».

It was a golden crown, with sacred images and precious stones, made up of three overlapping crowns, to symbolize the triple spiritual power, temporal and supreme. Shortly after his election, Pope Montini decided not to wear it anymore, the times had changed: so much so that he made him sell his and gave the proceeds to the missions: today he ended up in the national sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. But he did not forbid his use for his successors: Nobody wore it more, Everyone now brings the simplest (and fabric) mitria (or machine gun) but it is still in the papal coat of arms and in theory a next pontiff could decide to bring it.

It was Pope Luciani, become John Paul I for only 33 days, To decide to eliminate the coronation: in its place a solemn mass would have been celebrated, as was also done for Wojtyla. However, he had a draft prepared with new rules that in 2005, with other slight changes made in 2013, just before resignation, Benedict XVI published in an official liturgical book, the « Order of rites for the inauguration of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome ». A ritual therefore permanent, which however includes three fundamental moments: the delivery of the fisherman’s pallium and the ring and the obedience of the cardinals. In addition to the majestic initial procession in the basilica with cardinals, all with solemn vestments.

The pallium is A white wool strip placed by the protodiaceto On the shoulders of the Pope. As in the past centuries it is woven, like those of the metropolitan archbishops, by the Benedictine nuns of Santa Cecilia in Urbe, in Trastevere. The wool is that of two lambs of the friars Trappists, Benedetti every January 21, feast of Sant’Agnese, and carefully raised until Easter. Those for the archbishops are laid on the tomb of St. Peter until 29 June, the feast of St. Peter and Paul, when they are blessed by the Pope. The papal pallium, which he has 5 embroidered red crosses, It is a symbol of its pastoral mission and communion with the universal church: the wool recalls the lost sheep that the good shepherd finds and brings back to the shoulders to the fold.

The fisherman’s ring, delivered by the dean, represents the link with Peter, to whom Jesus said « I will make you fisherman of men » And the pope’s apostolic mission. In ancient times the pontiff used it as a seal for documents, today it remains more than anything else a symbol, which is canceled or broken by the Camerlengo Upon his death.

And then the ritual of the homage of the cardinals: which is to underline the universality of the Church e The link between the Pope and the purple. With Pope Ratzinger he was moved to the beginning of the mass, separating it from the Eucharistic celebration, to better distinguish liturgical moments. But a Pope is also such because he is bishop of Rome. And must officially take possession of the Roman « cathedra » in San Giovanni in Laterano, which Lion He will do on Sunday 25 at 17 in the archbesilic of the Blessed Savior and of the Saints Giovanni Battista and Evangelist (this is his complete title), called « Omnium Urbis et Orbis Ecclesiarum Mater et caput »or « mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world ».