Pope Leo to Confer the Pallium on Three Indian Archbishops Today

Vatican City, June 29, 2025: Pope Leo XIV will preside over a solemn Eucharistic Celebration on the morning of Sunday, June 29, 2025, at the Altar of the Confession in St. Peter’s Basilica, to mark the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. During this liturgy, the Holy Father will bless and impose the Pallium on 54 newly appointed Metropolitan Archbishops from around the world, including three prelates from India.

Among the Indian prelates receiving the Pallium this year are Msgr. John Rodrigues, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bombay; Msgr. Varghese Chakkalakal, Metropolitan Archbishop of Calicut; and Msgr. Udumala Bala Showreddy, Metropolitan Archbishop of Visakhapatnam. 

The pallium is a liturgical vestment made of white lamb’s wool. It serves as the official insignia of a metropolitan archbishop—an archbishop who leads a metropolitan archdiocese. It symbolises the archbishop’s communion with the Bishop of Rome and his pastoral mission, carried out cum Petro et sub Petro (with Peter and under Peter), in his metropolitan see.

A pallium (which means "mantle" or "cloak" in Latin) is approximately 5 centimetres wide and features two hanging bands, each about 30 centimetres long, weighted at the ends with small lead pieces covered in silk.

Worn over the chasuble, the pallium is adorned with six black crosses—positioned on the front and back, on each shoulder, and at the ends of the front and back bands. The crosses on the front, the back, and the left shoulder also bear a pin, called a spinula (a Latin word meaning a small spine, or thorn). These crosses are often set with precious stones and symbolise the bishop’s burden and his commitment to Christ.

Historically, the use of the pallium in the Latin Church began to rise in the 6th century. Pope St. Gregory the Great granted it as a mark of distinction to bishops he sought to honour. By the 9th century, it became a customary and required insignia for all metropolitan archbishops, who must formally request it from the Holy See upon their appointment.

This annual tradition of imposing the pallium on newly appointed metropolitan archbishops serves as a visible sign of hierarchical communion and shared mission in the global Catholic Church.

By Catholic Connect Reporter

Source: Vatican News and Silere Non Possum