{"id":1859,"date":"2023-12-11T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/?p=1859"},"modified":"2025-05-23T10:21:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T08:21:06","slug":"what-happened-to-the-papal-tiara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/caeremonialeromanum.com\/en\/2023\/12\/11\/what-happened-to-the-papal-tiara\/","title":{"rendered":"What happened to the Papal Tiara?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Die 11 decembris Anno Domini 2023\nSancti Damasi Pap\u00e6 et Confessoris<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Non in solo pane vivit homo, sed in omni verbo, quod procedit de ore Dei<\/em> (Mt 4,4)<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The office and person of the pope are related and still \u2013 despite some confusions \u2013 identified with a symbol that for centuries has expressed, manifested and above all synthesized the idea and mature doctrine of the Primacy of Peter, both theologically and juridically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, the solemn rite of coronation of the Bishop of Rome has been abandoned. A pope has not been seen wearing a tiara for almost sixty years, even though subsequent successors of Paul VI \u2013 who was the first to abandon the use of the tiara \u2013 had or still have their own papal triple crowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Historical development of the forms of the papal tiara from the 11th to the 16th century.
Source: A. Kretschmer and C. Rohrbach, The costumes of all nations\u2026<\/em>, London 1882, sheet no. 81.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
What really happened to the papal tiara? Has it been banned? What events are associated with her abandonment? Do the current laws, documents, regulations and liturgical books of the Holy See provide for a coronation or say anything about the papal tiara? What was the process of adapting the papal liturgy and ceremonies to new practices?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This study tries to answer these questions, but it should be noted that it is limited to detailing primarily historical facts \u2013 ceremonial and liturgical issues are described only contextually. Issues such as „when the pope used the tiara” or „why there were two tiaras on the papal altar during the solemn Holy Mass” or „when the papal tiara was carried in the ceremonial procession of the papal court” \u2013 will be the subject of a separate articles in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I. Pontificate of Paul VI (1963-1978)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) Papal coronation and the first months of the pontificate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the election of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, to the Throne of Peter, it was decided that the solemn coronation of the new pope would take place on June 30, 1963, i.e. nine days after the world heard Habemus Papam!<\/em> There is not much time to create an artistic work like a tiara, and this was the task faced by the members of the then famous Milanese School of Fra Angelico (Scuola Beato Angelico<\/em>) \u2013 it was entrusted to them after the faithful from the Archdiocese of Milan wanted to donate and fund „their” pope new triple crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Sketch of Paul VI’s tiara no. 6.
Source: Scuola Beato Angelico, Archivio Sezione Cesello, Milano \/ Alessandro Nanni.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Work on the tiara of Paul VI at the Fra Angelico School in Milan.
Source: ADI Design Museum di Milano, Segni Sacri exhibition. I cento anni della Scuola Beato Angelico<\/em> \/ Forum Cattolici Romani.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Work on the tiara of Paul VI at the Fra Angelico school in Milan.
Source: Farabola \/ Bridgeman Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For practical reasons, the coronation ceremonies were moved to St. Peter’s Square. The basilica was occupied by temporary platforms erected in connection with the ongoing council. In addition, it was decided to simplify the ritual itself, e.g. omitting some elements, which meant that the rituals lasted not almost 5, but „only” 3 hours (exact length of the transmission from the European broadcast band).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The coronation of Pope Paul VI.
Source: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The coronation of Pope Paul VI.
Source: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The coronation of Pope Paul VI.
Source: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The coronation of Pope Paul VI.
Source: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The coronation of Pope Paul VI.
Source: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
However, it was not expected that the coronation of Pope Paul VI would be the last ceremony of this type in the history of the Church, nor that the papacy would be deprived so quickly of the symbol that had defined it for the millennium, i.e. the tiara. However, it should be clearly noted that the Holy Father did not use the tiara for the last time during the coronation, contrary to widely repeated reports. Until he symbolically donated his tiara to the poor almost a year and a half later, he used it in accordance with accepted customs, i.e. when he took possession of the Lateran Archbasilica, when he gave Urbi et Orbi<\/em> blessings (Christmas, Easter) or \u2013 for the last time \u2013 as he celebrated the first anniversary of his coronation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Pope Paul VI with a tiara on his head during the solemn liturgy of taking possession of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome (November 10, 1963).
Source: Osservatore Romano<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pope Paul VI with a tiara on his head during the solemn liturgy of taking possession of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome (November 10, 1963).
Source: Osservatore Romano<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pope Paul VI with a tiara during the Urbi et Orbi<\/em> blessing
Source: unknown (photo colorized by AI).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pope Paul VI with a tiara during the Urbi et Orbi<\/em> blessing.
Source: Zuma Press \/ Alamy (photo colorized by AI).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pope Paul VI with a tiara during the Urbi et Orbi<\/em> blessing.
Source: unknown \/ Nicola De Grandi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n