Feature News

What's a pallium?

Archbishop Wenski will travel to Rome at the end of June to receive it from Pope Benedict

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

MIAMI — On June 29, along with archbishops from all over the world, Archbishop Thomas Wenski will receive his pallium — the symbol of his office as metropolitan archbishop.

Pope John Paul II began the tradition of distributing the pallium on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, which always falls on June 29, to emphasize the unity of bishops around the world with the successor of St. Peter.

The use of the pallium is reserved to the pope and archbishops. Worn by the pope, the pallium symbolizes the plenitude of pontifical office; worn by archbishops, it typifies their participation in the supreme pastoral power of the pope, who concedes it to them for their proper Church provinces.

The pallium is a circular band about two inches wide, worn about the neck, breast, and shoulders, and having two pendants, one hanging down in front and one behind. The pendants are about 2 inches wide and 12 inches long, and are weighted with small pieces of lead covered with black silk.

The remainder of the pallium is made of white wool, part of which is supplied by two lambs presented annually on the feast of St. Agnes, solemnly blessed, and then offered to the pope.

The ornamentation of the pallium consists of six small black crosses — one each on the breast and back, one on each shoulder, and one on each pendant. The crosses on the breast, back, and left shoulder are provided with a loop for the reception of a gold pin set with a precious stone. The pallium is worn over the chasuble.

Admission to the pallium ceremony at St. Peter’s is by ticket only. For those traveling to Rome by themselves, and not part of the official Archdiocese of Miami pilgrimage, the address to request tickets for the pallium Mass is:

Bishops' Office for United States Visitors to the Vatican
c/o Rev. Msgr. Roger Roensch
Via dell'Umilta, 30
00187 Rome, Italy
Europe

The request should be sent via fax and include the person’s name, parish, and the names of other persons in the party requesting tickets. They can be picked up on Monday afternoon, June 28, at the same address.

The fax number (from the US): (011)39-06-679-1448. The telephone number (from the US): (011)39-06-690011.