WHAT IS A PALLIUM AND WHY DO CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOPS WEAR IT


In the context of the Catholic Church, the pallium is a liturgical vestment worn by archbishops. It is a narrow band of white lamb's wool adorned with six black crosses, worn around the neck and hanging down the front and back.



The pallium holds symbolic and historical significance. Originally, it was a rectangular band of cloth worn by Roman dignitaries as a symbol of authority. In the early centuries of Christianity, the Roman Empire granted the pallium to certain bishops as a sign of their jurisdiction and authority within their respective regions.



Over time, the use of the pallium became more closely associated with the office of the archbishop. Today, the pallium is bestowed by the Pope upon metropolitan archbishops, who head ecclesiastical provinces, as a visible symbol of their office and their unity with the Roman Pontiff.



The six black crosses on the pallium are symbolic of the wounds of Christ and the archbishop's spiritual authority. The pallium signifies the archbishop's role as a shepherd and the responsibility to care for the spiritual well-being of the faithful in their jurisdiction.


The granting of the pallium is a significant ceremony in the Catholic Church. It typically takes place on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29) in Rome. During the ceremony, the Pope blesses the pallia and presents them to the newly appointed archbishops, emphasising the communion and unity between the archbishops and the Pope, as well as their participation in the apostolic ministry.



It's worth noting that in 2020, Pope Francis made a change to the traditional practice: instead of receiving the pallium in Rome, archbishops now receive it in their own dioceses from the hands of the Apostolic Nuncio, the Pope's representative in the respective country. 


This change was made to emphasise the local nature of the archbishop's authority and to foster closer ties between the archbishops and their local communities.


© Rev. Fr. Oselumhense Anetor, 2023 

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