Papal Coronation Part III: The Coronation Itself

Coronation of St Celestine V

The coronation of the Pope can take place in any number of locations. Some say it was always at St. Peter's, while others indicate that Popes were crowned at St. John Lateran. Leo XIII and Benedict XV were crowned in private ceremonies in the Sistine Chapel. Pius VII was crowned in exile using a tiara of paper mache at San Giorgio's in Venice. In recent memory the Papal Coronation, and the new rite inauguration, has taken place in St. Peter's Square. Pius XII and John XXIII were crowned on the balcony overlooking the square, while Paul VI, who held the Mass on the steps of the Square, was crowned at the throne erected in front of the doors to the Basilica.

Benedict VIII wearing an early tiara
made of cloth with one crown

It is worth saying a few words about the tiara itself. The origins of the Papal tiara are unclear, though the bright thinkers over at Wikipedia seem to believe it rooted in Anatolian headware. Pope Constantine mentions a Byzantine hat called a camelaucem in the eighth century. Either way, it was likely some sort of secular apparel, that is, it was not used during Mass or the Divine Office or other manner of liturgical function. It could have been used in processions, simply as a headpiece distinct to the Papal office, but still with a practical function. By the ninth century a crown appears at the bottom of it, as is seen in coins depicting Sergius III and Benedict VII. Around this time bishops start wearing imitations of the tiara made of softer material with hard lining that can be collapsed and re-opened, the bishop's mitre! This would also suggest that the tiara had come to enjoy some sort of liturgical significance, if bishops were modelling their own liturgical dress after something the Pope wore. Again, perhaps in processions or before and after Mass. New crowns were added in the following centuries and the style became shorter during the baroque period. Despite use of the tiara, which had taken on both political and religious meaning during the "Age of Faith," the Pope adopted use of the bishop's mitre for Mass and the Divine Office.

Back to our coronation! The Pope and his ministers make their way to the place of coronation and the Pontiff seats himself in a throne erected for the occasion. The Dean of the College of Cardinals sings a few short versicle prayers followed by a Pater Noster in silence followed by a short collect. The Pope's mitre is removed, the tiara is given to proto-deacon (senior most), who places it on the head of the Pontiff with the words:

Accipe tiaram tribus coronis ornatam, et scias te esse patrem principum et regum, rectorem orbis in terra vicarium Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi, cui est honor et gloria in saecula saeculorum.

Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns, and know that you are father of princes and kings, ruler of the world, vicar on earth of our Savior Jesus Christ, Whose is the honor and the glory for ever and ever.

After some silence, or in practice, applause, the Urbi et Orbi blessing would be announced to those gathered. The Pope with the tiara, would then give the fourt-part urbi et Orbi blessing, with the people kneeling for the final part. At this point the Papal Coronation has ended and the new Pontificate begins in earnest!

1939 coronation of Pius XII

One can also see an old news reel of Paul VI's coronation here: http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675039162_Pope-Paul-VI_Pope-Paul-VI-Coronation_Chair-of-Saint-Peter_Saint-Peter%E2%80%99s-Square

Pope Benedict XVI Resigns

Today during the meeting for the Consistory for Canonizations Benedict XVI announced his intention to vacate the Bishopric of Rome at 8:00PM on February 28th. The text of his address is below, first in Latin (as he gave it) then in English:

Fratres carissimi,

Non solum propter tres canonizationes ad hoc Consistorium vos convocavi, sed etiam ut vobis decisionem magni momenti pro Ecclesiae vitae communicem. Conscientia mea iterum atque iterum coram Deo explorata ad cognitionem certam perveni vires meas ingravescente aetate non iam aptas esse ad munus Petrinum aeque administrandum.

Bene conscius sum hoc munus secundum suam essentiam spiritualem non solum agendo et loquendo exsequi debere, sed non minus patiendo et orando. Attamen in mundo nostri temporis rapidis mutationibus subiecto et quaestionibus magni ponderis pro vita fidei perturbato ad navem Sancti Petri gubernandam et ad annuntiandum Evangelium etiam vigor quidam corporis et animae necessarius est, qui ultimis mensibus in me modo tali minuitur, ut incapacitatem meam ad ministerium mihi commissum bene administrandum agnoscere debeam. Quapropter bene conscius ponderis huius actus plena libertate declaro me ministerio Episcopi Romae, Successoris Sancti Petri, mihi per manus Cardinalium die 19 aprilis MMV commissum renuntiare ita ut a die 28 februarii MMXIII, hora 29, sedes Romae, sedes Sancti Petri vacet et Conclave ad eligendum novum Summum Pontificem ab his quibus competit convocandum esse.

Fratres carissimi, ex toto corde gratias ago vobis pro omni amore et labore, quo mecum pondus ministerii mei portastis et veniam peto pro omnibus defectibus meis. Nunc autem Sanctam Dei Ecclesiam curae Summi eius Pastoris, Domini nostri Iesu Christi confidimus sanctamque eius Matrem Mariam imploramus, ut patribus Cardinalibus in eligendo novo Summo Pontifice materna sua bonitate assistat. Quod ad me attinet etiam in futuro vita orationi dedicata Sanctae Ecclesiae Dei toto ex corde servire velim.

Ex Aedibus Vaticanis, die 10 mensis februarii MMXIII

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

____________________________________

Dear Brothers, 

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

Leo XIII reigned into his nineties as Pope. Benedict was advised by a doctor to cease making transatlantic voyages and to reduce his schedule. One could say a Pope who cannot travel could at least govern the Holy See, run the Papal Household, oversee the functions of the Curia, and perform public liturgies. If Benedict is resigning then he must see himself as no longer able to even perform these functions. Fr Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said he would move to Castel Gandolfo to set his affairs in order, then retire to a cloister within the Holy See's walls and live out the rest of his natural live, basically as a monk. To the right is a video of Fr Lombardi giving the press conference after the announcement. He is visibly nervous, shuffling papers that are already in neat stacks and fidgeting with his hands.

Gregory XII, the last Pope to resign

This creates a very strange dynamic: there will be two inhabitants of the Petrine chair alive at once. The last Pope to truly resign was the 13th century mystic St Peter Celestine, a hermit who was elected by a deadlocked conclave out of the blue, reigned for a few months, became aware he was not "up for the job," and resigned only to be arrested and indirectly killed by his successor, Boniface VIII. There were three claimants to the Papacy (Pope Gregory XII, and his opponents John XXIII and Benedict XIII). All three were deposed of any claims to the Papacy at the Council of Constance in 1415, leading to the election of Martin V. Some rotten skunks were kicked out by the cardinals or the people of Rome in the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries, usually on account of their personal wickedness. Nothing quite like this has ever happened though.

Usually the previous Pope's death sets things in motion. His rooms are sealed, his seal is destroyed. The Dean of the College of Cardinals says the Requiem Mass and buries the Pope. The cardinals convene in the Sistine Chapel and elect the new Pontiff in secret. The College of Cardinals as a body makes all governing decisions during the sede vacante. The new Pope assumes office and all the governing authorities. I guess the lack or succession here is what troubles me. It will be more or less a transition, given this current Pope still lives, though his health seems to be failing him.

Many commentators long suggested he might resign someday after watching his predecessor slowly and painfully die in the public eye. John Paul used his struggle as a teaching moment, increasing the Church's credibility on life issues to the secular world. Benedict might think himself physically unable to do even this.

Pray for Pope Benedict and ask God to give us a holy pontiff after him.

Good bye, and thank you.