Three reasons why Pope Francis is right on in changing the Pallium ceremony

This morning, Vatican Radio announced that Pope Francis has made changes to the public ceremony during which Metropolitan Archbishops receive the Pallium, or the woolen yoke that represents the wearer’s union with the Apostolic See and a reminder of his call to live a life of virtue.

My first reaction was, “Finally!” My second reaction was, “Thanks be to God!”

Here’s why. The change isn’t about the Pallium itself, the origin of which dates back to the Old Testament ephod worn by Hebrew high priests. It also represents the mantle of St. Peter, which is symbolic of his role as supreme pastor. The changes are in how and where the Archbishop receives his Pallium. The changes will take effect this coming June 29.

Can I say it again? Thanks be to God!

There are many reasons that this is an excellent move on the Pontiff’s part, but for me personally, there are three main ones to celebrate.

1. The Pallium itself will be blessed by the Holy Father at the Vatican on June 29 – the Feast of St. Peter and Paul – but the investiture will take place in the Archbishop’s own diocese.  My observation has been that the Pallium investiture tends to be a source of division between those who can attend and those who can’t. Generally, the dioceses make a pilgrimage out of it, inviting along those who can afford to pay for the trip. Those who can’t afford it get left out. Depending on the size of the diocese, I realize that some still may be left out if it’s held locally, but at least more folks have a chance to attend and it will eliminate some of the cliquishness of those who got to go and those who didn’t. The investiture of an Archbishop is an awesome, grace-filled moment in the history of a diocese and its people. It should take place among those people.

2. The Pallium will be invested by the Apostolic Nuncio of that country or territory. Amen. The Nuncios are to represent the Pope within their jurisdiction – then let them represent him! I think often our Nuncios are undervalued and underutilized. More than that. having the Nuncio invest the Archbishop with the Pallium allows the Catholics in the dioceses to become better acquainted with the Nuncio and the Nuncio to become better acquainted with his people. I would venture to guess that most Catholics don’t even know who their Nuncio is.

3. As the Vatican Radio report states, “the ceremony will continue to symbolize communion between the See of Peter and the Successor of the Apostle and those who are chosen to carry out the episcopal ministry as Metropolitan Archbishop of an Ecclesiastical Province.” In other words, just because the Pallium ceremony takes place in the diocese doesn’t mean that the relationship between the Pope and his Archbishops has or will lessen. Absolutely. What’s more, it will continue to symbolize the communion between the Holy Father and his children throughout the world.

One of the things Pope Francis does best, in my opinion, is reach out – to everyone. The changes in the Pallium investiture ceremony are one more way for his to do just that. 

Photo credit: By J-Ronn (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons