The pallium symbolizes the archbishop's call to imitate Christ the Good Shepherd and carry his sheep on his shoulders. The white woolen vestment with black crosses is draped over the archbishop's shoulders.
Bishops, cardinals and a number of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Basilica on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, which is when the Pope traditionally blesses the pallia of the metropolitan archbishops appointed in the last year.
At the beginning of the ceremony, four deacons carried the pallia from the tomb of St. Peter to the main altar, where Pope Francis blessed them.
POPE FRANCIS
“This sign of unity with Peter is a reminder of the mission of the shepherd who gives his life for his flock. It is in giving his life that the shepherd, himself set free, becomes a means of bringing freedom to his brothers and sisters.”
At the end of Mass, Pope Francis, together with Metropolitan Emmanuel Adamakis of Chalcedon, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Iosif Bosch of Buenos Aires and Patriarchal Deacon Barnabas Grigoriadis, spent a few moments praying before St. Peter's tomb.
CT
VM
