The Franciscan revolution continues, piece by piece. This week, it was revealed that Pope Francis is changing the process by which metropolitan archbishops are invested with their pallium. The new process highlights the importance of the local church and its connection to the wider church.
In a letter to papal nuncios around the world, the papal master of liturgies, Monsignor Guido Marini, said Pope Francis will still invite newly appointed metropolitan archbishops to concelebrate Mass with him on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29). At the end of the Mass, during a private moment with the pope, the archbishops will be given a wool pallium to take back to their archdiocese.
Each archbishop will set a date for a mass in their home see. The papal nuncio will formally invest the archbishop with his pallium during that mass.
Monsignor Marini told Vatican Radio the move is meant to highlight the archbishops relationship with the local church, and the communion among the local churches. He said the new practice “enriches” the pallium ceremony.
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Last year the papal almoner’s office had shower facilities built in the bathrooms at St. Peter’s square for the pope’s homeless neighbours. The papal almoner’s office is now going one step further and having a barber shop installed in the newly-renovated washrooms.
Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the head of the office that distributes the alms given to the pope, told the Italian news agency ANSA the barbershop facility is essentially completed. Everything from scissors and combs to barber chairs and mirrors were donated by local barbers and hairdressers. He said homeless people living the Vatican neighbourhood can’t walk into a barbershop to get a haircut and shave because of the fear of spreading scabies or lice.
Haircutting and shaving services will be available on mondays - the day most barbers and salons are closed. Local barbers and hairdressers have already signed up to volunteer their services.