{UAH} Vatican's very successful pallium ceremony!

Everything went on very well as anticipated! St Peter's Basilique was packed tight

with thousands of pilgrims, official visitors, etc.. among whom Italian government officials,

diplomats, cardinals, bishops, the newly appointed archbishops and their accompanying foreign delegations

from all continents and especially a delegation sent by the Ecumenical Patriach of Constantinople.

Choir was excellent and the attendance very attentive. 

The Pope arrived amidst applauses and camera flashes from thousands of faithful.

As he sat to his Throne, two deacons descended in the crypt to fetch the palliums which had been placed on

St Peter's tomb. And the Prefect of the Congregation for the Bishops asked the Pope to bless them. Next to this

was the official and formal oath of fidelity to the Pope and the Church which each new Archbishop made before the Pope.

Then Mass service resumed with the readings followed by the Pope's sermon in which he assured the whole congregation

of the Church's full strength to stand martyrdom, illtreatment, torture,etc.. He encouraged the spirit of regular prayer as being the

shield against all kinds of negative attitudes thrust towads Christians. A church which prays is a steady Church and a Christian who prays

is a strong Christian because he has God who never abandons him / her. He added that everything, every ideology and every regime has passed

and gone and yet the Church remains in spite of all tribulations! He reminded the new Archbishops that the pallium was like a sheep carried

on their shoulders in the same way as the shepherd carries his  flock. He then greeted the delegation from Constantinople and encouraged them in their

prayers and ection. and at the end of the service he descended with  them to the crypt to pray at St Peter's tomb.

As for the new Archbishops, having been greeted by the Pope, they will return to their countries of origin where the pallium will publicly be

remitted to them by the Papal Nuncio in the presence of their suffragan bishops under their charge and the faithful. Today's ceremony was mainly

intended to introduce the new Archbishops to Rome and to bless the palliums. According to a modification the pallium will henceforth be remitted to the recipient in his own country.

At noon the Pope appeared in the window of his private study and recited the Angelus prayer after which he blessed and addressed the tens

of thousands of people massed in St Peter's Square. Among the many things he pointed to was his very imminent trip to Latin america

where he will visit Bolivia, Paraguay and Ecuador starting this coming Saturday July 5 to July 13, 2015. And requested for prayers for a nice trip.

The journey to Latin America will be a very busy one! The pope is expected to try his best to encourage the establishment of a good working relationship

between governments and the local churches. Millions of pilgrims will show up. He is expected to go to native Argentine next year.

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo  ( Paris / France )