Pope Leo XVI placed the pallium on the shoulders of 35 new metropolitan archbishops appointed over the last year during the celebration of Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
He called on them to learn from these saints, the patrons of the city and diocese of Rome, “how we can be apostles and builders of unity, and generous servants of the truth in charity.”
Four of those who received the pallium are archbishops from the United States: Ronald Hicks of New York, James Checchio of New Orleans, James Golka of Denver and Mark Rivituso of Mobile, Ala.
The pallium—a strip of lamb’s wool with six black crosses woven into it—is an ecclesiastical insignia that goes back to the fourth century and predates the crozier and miter. It symbolizes the bond between the bishop of Rome and each archbishop, as well as the ecclesiastical jurisdiction given by the Roman pontiff to the metropolitan archbishops through the centuries. After receiving it, the archbishop wears it over his shoulders at all major liturgical celebrations in his archdiocese.
Following tradition, on the eve of this solemn feast, which is a holiday in both the Vatican and the city of Rome, the palliums were placed over the tomb of St. Peter, located directly beneath the high altar in the basilica that bears his name. After the pope delivered his homily at Mass today, deacons brought the palliums to him on two trays. The 35 new metropolitan archbishops then each knelt before the pope, who placed the pallium over their shoulders.
By doing so, Pope Leo reverted to the tradition that prevailed before his Argentine predecessor changed it in 2015. Pope Francis, wishing to decentralize the rite, decreed that the pallium be placed on the metropolitan archbishops in their local diocese by the papal nuncio or his delegate.
Before giving them the pallium, Leo reminded the 35 archbishops that “these bands of white wool adorned with crosses indeed express the commitment of every shepherd—and also of every Christian—to take upon their shoulders the brothers and sisters entrusted to them, like so many lambs of the Lord’s flock, and to sacrifice their energy, time, effort and even their lives for them. They do so in order that the Gospel may reach everyone, and the whole world may find in it harmony and concord.”
At today’s celebration, following tradition, Pope Leo and the archbishops wore red vestments in memory of the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and Paul. So, too, did the 178 cardinals who had participated in the recent consistory (June 26-27) and concelebrated the Mass.
In his homily, Leo focused first on St. Peter, “chosen by Jesus as the shepherd of his flock,” and recalled that he “is often portrayed in the New Testament as striving to preserve communion among the brothers.” He highlighted Peter’s role as the preserver of unity in the early church, a task Leo now has as pope.
His focus on unity appeared to take on particular significance today, given that the Society of St. Pius X, which rejects some of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, intends to break that unity by the schismatic act of ordaining new bishops without the papal mandate on July 1, though he did not mention it explicitly.
Referring to St. Peter, he recalled that “while many are turning away from the Lord after the difficult discourse on the Bread of Life, it is he who says to the Messiah, ‘To whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life,’ and remains together with the other 11.” Likewise, “after the Resurrection, on the shore of the lake, Peter is the first to reach Christ, jumping into the water and swimming ahead of the others to humbly renew his love and receive confirmation of his mission.”
Leo also noted that when “the question of admitting uncircumcised Gentiles to baptism threatens to divide the community…[Peter] gathers the brothers together, listens to them and in the end, guided by the Holy Spirit, makes a decision that preserves communion and ushers in a new era for the entire People of God.”
Nevertheless, Leo said, “This magnanimity does not mean that Peter is perfect.” He “denies the Master” when Jesus is held prisoner, only later “to shed sincere tears of repentance.” Yet, he said, “Peter knows how to acknowledge his mistakes and repent, without becoming discouraged and without failing in his mission to proclaim the Gospel and gather Christ’s flock, even unto martyrdom—a fate which he suffered here in Rome, not far from where we are gathered.”
Pope Leo told those in the basilica that “this faithful and patient concern for unity is well expressed by the symbol of the keys, with which we often identify Peter.” He explained that “a key does not break down doors; rather, it opens and closes them by finding the proper levers within and guiding their movements, so that locks may release, bolts withdraw and doors turn freely on their hinges, thereby joining rooms together and transforming many isolated spaces into one welcoming home.”
“In the same way,” he said, “communion within the church is not built by clinging rigidly to one’s own position, but by seeking, in all hearts, points of encounter in the Truth, in whose light alone each person becomes a means of growth for another.”
“In this light,” Leo said, “we can interpret the mission entrusted by the Lord to Peter and his successors for the benefit of the entire holy People of God. It is a mission to listen, with his help, to the voice of each person; to discern inspirations; to guide the way; to correct errors; to instruct, encourage, exhort and accompany our brothers and sisters so that, docile to the action of the same Spirit, they may cooperate in the salvation of one another and of all humanity.”
Then turning to St. Paul, “the tireless herald of the Good News,” Leo recalled how Jesus converted Paul to the Gospel and sent him “to proclaim it throughout the world.” Like Peter, “he was to bear witness to the Gospel even to the point of giving his life in this very city” after allowing himself “to be transformed by the power of God’s word, which rescued him from the way of violence and led him onto the path of love.”
Later, at the Angelus, speaking from the papal study window on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo again spoke about Peter and Paul and said “the blood they shed in this city reveals the depth of God’s love that the Lord Jesus has given us. Yes, it is by their word and their martyrdom that the Gospel of Christ has, so to speak, taken root in Rome, revealing right here, in the capital of the empire, its power to renew through a new knowledge of God and of the infinite dignity of every human being, a new understanding of power—not as dominion, but as service to human life.”
Peter and Paul “could not have been more different from one another,” he said. “They differed in background, upbringing and character, not only before but also after they were called, for the one Lord did not make them the same.” Moreover, “they understood and proclaimed the Gospel, each with his own distinctive voice; and the Holy Spirit, in inspiring the biblical authors, did not want their differences to be hidden. Indeed, these differences are presented to us as good news.”
Commenting on this, Leo said that “within the college of the Apostles, Peter and Paul were not adversaries. On the contrary, in a sense they became the symbol of the many other diversities that the one Spirit unites into a single whole. In this way, the patron saints of the church of Rome experienced the challenges of communion; they knew it, served it and proclaimed it as a sacrament of divine life. Their witness has contributed decisively to ensuring that the Christian presence in history is directed not toward dominion but toward service, unity and reconciliation.”
Pope Leo concluded by praying, “May the Lord, through the intercession of Sts. Peter and Paul, grant us the grace to appreciate ever more deeply the catholicity of the church, to recognize its value in fostering fraternal encounter among individuals and peoples, to avoid whatever erodes or harms communion, to persevere on the ecumenical path and in attentive and honest dialogue with all.”