{"id":1100,"date":"2023-10-14T14:11:07","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T12:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/?p=1100"},"modified":"2025-05-23T10:23:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T08:23:20","slug":"the-rite-of-papal-coronation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/2023\/10\/14\/the-rite-of-papal-coronation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rite of Papal Coronation"},"content":{"rendered":"
Die 14 octobris Anno Domini 2023\nSancti Callisti Pap\u00e6 et Martyris<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The papal coronation is one of the most expressive acts of each new pontificate. This tradition continued uninterrupted for over one millennium [1<\/strong>]. It was always a momentous event not only for the City and the world<\/em>, but above all for the Church [2<\/strong>]. Unlike secular ceremonies, especially post-Renaissance ones, the pope’s coronation rite has remained basically unchanged for centuries and at the same time simple in its essence [3<\/strong>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although papal coronation was not explicitly abolished or banned, and contemporary popes received tiaras as gifts from the faithful (John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis), events and documents published by popes, starting from the pontificate of Paul VI, caused this ritual to fall into desuetude [4<\/strong>], even though some secular sovereigns are still crowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Benedict XVI received the tiara during an audience on May 25, 2011.
Source: liturgix.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tiara of Pope Benedict XVI.
Source: liturgix.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tiara of Pope Benedict XVI.
Source: liturgix.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Here we present a possibly detailed, but also adapted to the popularization nature of this publication, description of the pope’s coronation rites [5<\/strong>] \u2013 in their mature and established form \u2013 based on documents of the Holy See [6<\/strong>] and available audiovisual materials [7<\/strong>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It should be noted that the first such ceremony to be broadcast on radio was the coronation of Pope Pius XII, while the first to be broadcast entirely on television was the coronation of Pope John XXIII. The coronation of Pope Paul VI differed from the previous ones in some aspects \u2013 mainly that the entire ceremony took place in St. Peter’s Square for the first time (the coronation itself, along with the solemn Urbi et Orbi<\/em> blessing, also took place in the square in front of the basilica) [8<\/strong>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pope’s coronation rites can be divided into the following stages: passage to the place of coronation (I<\/span>) and introductory prayers (II<\/span>), coronation with a tiara by the cardinal protodeacon (III<\/span>), Urbi et Orbi<\/em> blessing (IV<\/span>) with the announcement of plenary indulgence (V<\/span>) and the return of the pope and his personal assistance to the Apostolic Palace (VI<\/span>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Coronation rites from a booklet prepared by the Holy See for diplomats taking part in the solemn coronation of Pope Paul VI.
Source: CR collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Coronation rites from a booklet prepared by the Holy See for diplomats taking part in the solemn coronation of Pope Paul VI.
Source: CR collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Coronation rites from a booklet prepared by the Holy See for diplomats taking part in the solemn coronation of Pope Paul VI.
Source: CR collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I. END OF MASS AND PASSAGE TO THE CORONATION PLACE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the end of the Mass and the customary presentation to the pope of an honorarium from the canons of the Vatican Basilica „for a well-sung Mass” (pro Missa bene cantata<\/em>), the Holy Father, wearing his Mass vestments \u2013 including pontifical gloves, but without the maniple, which was left on the altar \u2013 assisted by ceremonialists, headed toward the gestatorial chair (sedia gestatoria<\/em>) to go to the place of coronation. By this time, a papal cortege was already forming in the same order as for the beginning of the ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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A scheme of the papal cortege from an internal document of the Sacred Congregation of Ceremonies compiled in 1925 and given to those concerned.
Source: private archives of Guido Gusso.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The papal cortege on the day of the coronation of Pius XII. The procession descends from the Royal Staircase (Scala Regia<\/em>) and heads inside St. Peter’s Basilica.
Source: Dziennik Polski.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The procession, walking through the basilica, passed successively through the portico, then through the Royal Staircase (Scala Regia<\/em>), the Royal Hall (Sala Regia<\/em>) and the Hall of Benedictions (Sala delle Benedizioni<\/em>) to reach the main (central) exterior loggia, from which there is a perfect view of the St. Peter’s Square. It was on this balcony that popes were traditionally crowned, so that the Roman people could attend the ceremony, receive the indulgences associated with it and cheer in honor of their new bishop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Diagram of the portico of St. Basilica Peter.
Source: stpetersbasilica.info<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Scala Regia<\/em> diagram.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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View of the Sala Regia in the Vatican Palace.
Source: piranesiselection.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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View of the Hall of Benedictions.
Source: vatican.va<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
After arriving at the balcony, the pope sat on a specially prepared throne. Due to the limited space, it is understandable that he was accompanied there only by the necessary assistance, which included: cardinal deacons acting as assistants (also during Mass); prelates carrying a cross, tiara, mitra and candles; masters of ceremonies (obligatory two de numero<\/em>, i.e. serving „full-time” in the Prefecture of Papal Ceremonies) and the cardinal protodeacon, who had the privilege of coronating the pope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In practice, there were more people on the balcony, e.g. other cardinals, representatives of armed formations, subsequent masters of ceremonies (supranumerari<\/em>, i.e. „supernumeraries” who served „ad hoc”; usually there were seven of them), and nowadays also photographers, radio and television crews. This type of crowd and movement around the Holy Father was typical of the papal liturgy and ceremonies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n