The Coronation

The day on which a new Pope is solemnly blessed as Pope, is a great day for the Church and, according to the Church, humanity. The Church uses the phrase "a solemn liturgical rite of inauguration" or "installation" to describe what is more colloquially referred to as the Coronation of the Pope. The newly elected Pope assumes his role as leader of the Church at the moment, in Conclave, when he tells the Cardinal Dean that he accepts the result of the election selecting him. Shortly after this, the Sacred College of Cardinals presents him to the Universal Church. 

After The Lord's Prayer in the solemn liturgical rite of inauguration, each member of the College of Cardinals must publicly recognize and pay homage to the new Pope. Traditionally, this occurred on bended knee. The Pope is the principal celebrant of this Liturgy, however. In the Installation of Pope John Paul II, each Cardinal, in line of seniority, approached the new Pope and remained standing to repeat his homage while receiving his embrace and exchanging the Kiss of Peace. 

According to hundreds of years of tradition, certain events must take place in this solemn Blessing of the new Pope. Arguably the most important one involves the placing of the Pallium. The Pallium is a special, narrow stole of white wool embroidered with six black, silk crosses. During the installation, this Pallium must be laid around the shoulders of the Pope. Three jeweled, gold pins will attach it to the Pope across his breast, and at his back, and on his left shoulder. This Pallium symbolizes the plentitude of episcopal jurisdiction enjoyed by the Pope, the universality of his rule of the Church. 

The Senior Cardinal Deacon performs the Ceremony of Investiture, reciting in Latin the following words: 

Blessed be God, Who has chosen you as Shepherd of the Universal Church, entrusting you with this apostolic ministry. May you shine brilliantly during long years of earthly life, until, when called by our Lord, you are vested with immortality as you enter his celestial kingdom. Amen. 

At the conclusion of this Solemn Liturgy the Holy Father, for the second time, bestows his Apostolic Blessing Urbi et Orbi, to the Eternal city and to the whole world. 

During the Coronation of Pope Pius XII, the most memorable event was the placing of the Papal Tiara. Little is known of the origins of this Tiara but, in the earliest centuries, a single crown was used. When the second crown was added, it was meant to show that the Pope had not only spiritual power, but also the power to crown the head of the Holy Roman Empire. It was while the Pope resided in Avignon, France, that the third part of the Papal Tiara was added. There is no record of why this was done. Popular belief surrounding the Papal Tiara is that the three crowns symbolize the Church Militant on earth, the Church Suffering after death and before heaven, and the Church Triumphant in eternal reward. In effect the three crowns mean that the Pope is lawgiver, judge and teacher. 

It can be many years between each coronation. Seventeen years elapsed between the coronations of Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius XII. There was a two-month span between the installations of Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II. Today, more than twenty years has already passed since the solemn liturgical rite of inauguration of Pope John Paul II. 

Until the Coronation of Pope Pius XII in 1939, which took place inside Saint Peter’s and was broadcast on the radio, only a select group witnessed a solemn liturgical rite of inauguration. That was a major innovation for the event. The next Coronation, that of Pope John XXIII, was carried on television. Now it is an event that anyone with access to a radio, television or internet connection can attend. The installation of Pope John Paul II took place on the steps outside Saint Peter's, opening the guest list to all of mankind.