CNS STORY: At pope's first public Mass, Vatican inaugurates new rites, rituals

The whole CNS
public Web site
headlines, briefs
stories, etc,
represents less
than one percent
of the daily news
report.

Get all the news!

If you would like
more information
about the
Catholic News
Service daily
news report,
please contact
CNS at one of
the following:
cns@
catholicnews.com
or
(202) 541-3250

Copyright:

This material
may not
be published,
broadcast,
rewritten or
otherwise
distributed.

Copyright
(c) 2005
Catholic News
Service/U.S.
Conference of
Catholic Bishops.

CNS Story:

INAUGURATION-RITES Apr-24-2005 (750 words) With photos. xxxi

At pope's first public Mass, Vatican inaugurates new rites, rituals

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With Pope Benedict XVI's first public Mass, the Vatican inaugurated new rites, rituals and vestments.

Developed during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, the changes were kept as drafts until Pope Benedict approved them the day after his April 19 election, said Msgr. Crispino Valenziano, a consultant to the office of papal liturgical ceremonies.

When asked if Pope Benedict had requested any changes to the liturgies, the monsignor said, "No comment."

However, he said, Pope Benedict's reaction to the rites as a whole was that they express "all of ecclesiology," providing a tangible expression of what the Catholic Church believes about itself.

Msgr. Valenziano said the revised "Rites for the Beginning of a Pontificate" represent the first systematic and formal reworking of the rites since the Second Vatican Council.

Pope Paul VI began his pontificate with the traditional coronation, although later he dispensed with the tiara. The inaugurations of Popes John Paul I and John Paul II were simplifications of the old coronation ceremony, Msgr. Valenziano said.

The biggest visual changes in the new rites, he said, are the fisherman's ring and the pallium, the woolen stole symbolizing a bishop's authority.

Both, he said, are based on ancient designs.

The fisherman's gold ring, incised with a scene of St. Peter casting out his net, is similar to the old rings that popes used also as seals. Designed by the Rome Association of Goldsmiths, it does not have a gem in it, Msgr. Valenziano said.

Pope Benedict's pallium is similar to that worn by popes in the first millennium, he said.

Pope John Paul's pallium was a circular band worn over the shoulder with a 12-inch long strip hanging down the front and the back.

The new pallium wraps around the pope's shoulders and hangs down his left side just below his knees. The end piece is made of black silk, a symbol of "the black sheep which the shepherd rescues and carries over his shoulder back to the flock," Msgr. Valenziano said.

Two major changes were made to the installation Mass, celebrated April 24 at the Vatican.

The service began inside St. Peter's Basilica with all the concelebrating cardinals forming a circle around the main altar. Pope Benedict and the patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic churches went down to St. Peter's tomb under the altar, paying their tribute to the apostle.

"Places are especially important," Msgr. Valenziano said. "Although the Basilica of St. John Lateran is his cathedral, the ministry of the pope begins at St. Peter's because he is the successor of St. Peter."

By walking into the square from the apostle's tomb, the monsignor said, the new pope tells the world, "I begin my ministry from the place where the apostle's ended."

The second change involved the act of obedience, which in the past was made by every cardinal present at a papal inauguration.

The new rite was designed to demonstrate that the entire church recognizes the newly elected pope, Msgr. Valenziano said. Twelve people were chosen to represent all Catholics: three cardinals, a bishop, a diocesan priest, a transitional deacon, a male religious, a female religious, a married couple and a young man and a young woman recently confirmed.

Msgr. Valenziano said the new rites also call for the pope to go almost immediately to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls to pay homage to the other martyr considered co-founder of the church of Rome.

Pope Benedict's visit was scheduled for April 25.

The next major liturgies, which probably will take place May 7, were to be focused on the Diocese of Rome, which the pope heads.

He will take possession of his cathedral, St. John Lateran, but also will be reminded of what the early fathers of the church said about the role of bishop, Msgr. Valenziano said.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, papal vicar of Rome, will remind Pope Benedict that "you are elevated to watch over us, not because you are superior to us," that "your honor is true only if you do not obscure the honor of your brothers and sisters," and that his role is to be "the servant of the servants of God."

Msgr. Valenziano said the liturgy is "a strong, robust service," which Pope Benedict approved.

After leaving St. John Lateran, the new pope is scheduled to stop at the Basilica of St. Mary Major and offer his prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly for the Diocese of Rome.

END

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250