To Gentlemen working for His Holiness, to Antechamber Attendants and Pontifical Chair Bearers
Peace be with you!
Good morning to all, welcome!
Dear Gentlemen, Ushers and Chamberlains,
I am particularly pleased with this meeting, which – for once – is dedicated specifically to you, and allows me to offer you a word of gratitude and encouragement. I greet the Regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, and the Vice-Regent, Father Edward Daleng, O.S.A., who coordinate your service. I express my gratitude to all of you, especially for the spirit of fidelity to the Pope with which you carry out your duties. This dedication accompanies and helps me daily in my apostolic mission, benefiting all those I meet in state visits, audiences, on the most solemn occasions as well as the more familiar ones. Speaking of which, I think your work can be well summarized by three verbs, which encapsulate its meaning and value: preparing, welcoming, greeting.
The quality of an encounter, in fact, begins with the care that distinguishes its preparations, down to the smallest details. Rich in history and art, the space we inhabit demands a service that is both attentive and humble. The arrangement of the rooms is followed by the diligence of gestures of welcome and greeting that are noble but not affected, elegant but not sophisticated, so as to communicate affability to everyone. Whether prince or pilgrim, patriarch or postulant, the solicitude of the Successor of Peter remains the same towards all and loving towards each one.
The sober beauty that distinguishes the papal protocol is reflected in your every gesture. Thinking of the history of those who preceded you, bear witness to their values with a consistent life, knowing well that the service of honor certainly requires a peculiar code of conduct, but first and foremost a solid faith, and therefore a spiritual style marked by devotion to the Church and the Pope. May your actions, posture, and daily glances always be a luminous reflection of this. As I encourage you to continue diligently in the various services in which you collaborate, each according to your respective role, I reaffirm my gratitude to you and impart the Apostolic Blessing, which I gladly extend to your families and loved ones. Thank you!
By contrast, Pope Francis blessing the St. Michael the Archangel statue in the Vatican Gardens:
8 comments:
It is so comforting and reassuring to see a pope look and behave like all his predecessors. And before the arrogant responses to my opinion start……it’s not about clothing. It’s about centuries of tradition and continuity. Francis shunned everything about the papacy except the wielding of absolute power like a dictator. When I see pictures of him I see Jorge Bergoglio, a scowling, judgment, miserable human being. When I see Pope Leo I see a man who has taken on the mantle of the papacy with reverence, sincerity and complete trust in the Lord. A man who listens to all without prejudice, a man who is not inherently nasty, like Francis was. A man who I listen to, I listen to him, I tuned Francis off like every other person I know did. Why are we a Catholic so eager to trash our traditions/Traditions? Did you ever meat a Jew who sees Hebrew as a stumbling block. Or an Orthodox who is embarrassed by bishops wearing crowns. I’m not a Protestant and I don’t want to pretend to be one. I like being a Catholic and everything that goes with it…..a spiritual beauty and a physical beauty that engages all the senses. I hope Pope Leo brings back more…the tiara, the sedia, and the red cloak. I remember as a kid watching Pope Paul and Pope John Paul being carried on the throne and I loved it. It wasn’t embarrassing or triumphant, it was just that’s what popes do.
Father McDonald said..."By contrast, Pope Francis blessing the St. Michael the Archangel statue in the Vatican Gardens:"
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Here is video of that beautiful ceremony conducted by holy Popes Francis (requiescat in pace), as well as Benedict (Emeritus) XVI (requiescat in pace):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7guMj2h97y8
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BLESSING OF THE NEW STATUE OF ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL:
ADDRESS OF HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2013/july/documents/papa-francesco_20130705_statua-san-michele.html
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Excerpts:
"This initiative was planned long ago with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI, to whom our affection and acknowledgment are ever due, and to whom we would like to express our great joy in having him here with us today. Thank you with all my heart!
"Michael — which means: “Who is like God?” — is the champion of the primacy of God, of his transcendence and power.
"Michael fights to reestablish divine justice; he defends the People of God from their enemies and above all from the arch-enemy par excellence, the devil.
"And St Michael triumphs because in him it is God who acts.
"This sculpture reminds us therefore that evil is vanquished, the accuser is unmasked, his head is crushed, because salvation was fulfilled once and for all by the blood of Christ.
"Even if the devil is always trying to scratch the face of the Archangel and the face of man, God is stronger; his is the victory and his salvation is offered to every human being.
"On the journey and in the trials of life we are not alone, we are accompanied and sustained by the Angels of God, who offer, so to speak, their wings to help us overcome the many dangers, to be able to fly above those realities that can make our lives difficult or drag us down.
"In consecrating the Vatican City State to St Michael the Archangel, let us ask him to defend us from the Evil One and cast him out.
"Dear brothers and sisters, let us also consecrate Vatican City State also to St Joseph, the guardian of Jesus, of the Holy Family.
"His presence helps us to be ever stronger and to have the courage to make space for God in our life so that good may always conquer evil.
"Let us ask him to keep us, care for us, so that the life of Grace may increase every day in each one of us."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Thanks did much for the video showing the contrasts so clearly. WOW! No comparison between the two.
Father McDonald said..."By contrast, Pope Francis blessing the St. Michael the Archangel statue in the Vatican Gardens:"
The most important thing in regard to the above is the powerful prayer/address that holy Pope Francis (requiescat in pace) had delivered that day in the Vatican Gardens. Tremendous spirituality.
Delivered by a holy man, a great Pope...and assisted that day by Emeritus Benedict XVI (requiescat in pace), who had acquitted himself as a holy man, as well as great Pope.
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Beautiful vestments and robes do not always tell the entire story.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
"You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.'
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Wow! Slamming Pope Leo—you’re making progress. Who would have thought!
I slammed Pope Leo XIV? Not at all.
Among my points is that somebody's simple, humble "ugly" religious ceremony may be another person's beautiful religious ceremony.
My belief is that Pope Francis (requiescat in pace), as well as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (requiescat in pace), had conducted a God-pleasing blessing of the Saint Michael the Archangel statue.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Your comparison and mine were between Francis and Leo, Leo humbly embracing what is prescribed for this kind of blessing and Francis was above papal vesture protocol. You wrote this about Leo: Beautiful vestments and robes do not always tell the entire story.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
"You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.'
I did not direct Jesus Christ's "Woe, to you..." at Pope Leo XIV. My comment was aimed at...well...let's say certain folks who place, in my opinion, excessive emphasis upon vestments, supposed Papal protocol...
Just a reminder about that.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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