Unlike popes who have died in office, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who died on Saturday December 31 was not wearing a pallium, a white cloth cord with five black crosses around his neck for the incumbent pope and for diocesan archbishops.
On Sunday, January 1, 2023, the Vatican posted the first two photos of Benedict's body entombed in the Monastery of the Mother Church, his final abode. Benedict wore a simple red vestment, a crown, and a wooden rosary in his hand. He did not wear the pallium of the bishop of Rome, unlike his predecessors who died in office because only the pope in office, as bishop of Rome, as well as the archbishops of the dioceses wore the pallium. , which speaks of the close communion between the pope and the archbishops. As for Benedict XVI, the pallium also symbolizes the yoke of Christ.
Nor did he wear the red shoes he usually wears, nor the red short robe he usually wears, Pope Francis wears a short white robe. But the red vestibule over the white one has been a sign reserved for popes since Paul VI died in 1978.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said Benedict's body will be laid to rest in St. Peter's Basilica from 9 a.m. Monday to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be celebrated by Pope Francis on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica.
The Pallium is a kind of garment symbolizing the fullness of the episcopal power, symbolizing the communion between the Archbishop and the Pope - with the Holy See.
In Eastern Orthodox rites, only the patriarchs are allowed to wear this belt.
This cord is used only when celebrating the liturgy within the Archdiocese of the Archbishop. When in use, the Pope and the Archbishops wear this strap around the neck, chest and shoulders.
The wool for weaving the Pallium was obtained from two special sheep raised by the Trappists at Tre Fontane.
Each year, the Pope blesses these two lambs on the feast of Saint Agnes (January 21) at St. Agnes, Rome; Later, the Benedictine nuns at the Basilica of Cecilia used wool to weave the pallium.
The woven ropes will be placed in a bronze box, located near the chair of St. Peter, above the tomb of Saint Peter (the main altar above the tomb of Saint Peter) until June 29.
The Pallium is the most ancient emblem of the Archbishop. Made of sheep's wool, the Pallium cord represents the image of lost sheep that Jesus carried on his shoulders and brought home.
Accordingly, the image of Bishops wearing the Pallium also implies that pastors "carry each other on their shoulders" - supporting each other in the liturgy for all humanity.
Saint Simeon of Tessalonica writes: “The Pallium indicates that Christ, when he met us like a lost sheep, carried it on his shoulders, and when he took on human humanity in his incarnation, he divinized it by his death. He was on the Cross, he offered us to the Father, and through his resurrection he lifted us up."
The Pallium strap is shaped like the letter Y, wrapped in a circle above the shoulders, and has two drops on the front chest and back. The width is as wide as 3 knuckles. On the Pallium cord are embroidered 6 small black crosses, two crosses on the shoulders, 2 crosses on the chest and 2 crosses on the back.
The Pallium is a symbol of pastoral ministry.
Wearing the Pallium is a proud honor, but it always comes with heavy responsibility.
We thank God and pray for archbishops around the world on this special occasion.
