Papal inaugurationPapal inauguration is a liturgical service of the Catholic Church within Mass celebrated in the Roman Rite but with elements of Byzantine Rite for the ecclesiastical investiture of a pope. Since the inauguration of Pope John Paul I, it has not included the 820-year-old (1143–1963) papal coronation ceremony. It was in the 11th century that the inauguration took the form of a coronation.
Ecumenical Patriarch of ConstantinopleThe ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople (Greek: Οἰκουμενικός Πατριάρχης, romanized: Oikoumenikós Patriárchēs) is the archbishop of Constantinople and primus inter pares (first among equals) among the heads of the several autocephalous churches that comprise the Eastern Orthodox Church. The ecumenical patriarch is regarded as the representative and spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide.
PopemobileThe popemobile (Latin: papacinetum or papocinetum; Italian: papamobile) is a specially-designed motor vehicle used by the pope for public appearances. It is the successor to the sedia gestatoria (portable throne) and is designed to make the pope more visible when greeting large crowds. There have been many different designs for the pope's method of vehicular transport.
Pope Benedict XVIHead of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013OrdersOrdination29 June 1951by Michael von FaulhaberConsecration28 May 1977by Josef StanglCreated cardinal27 June 1977by Paul VIRankCardinal priest (1977–1993)Cardinal bishop (1993–2005)Personal detailsBornJoseph Alois Ratzinger(1927-04-16)16 April 1927Marktl, GermanyDied31 December 2022(2022-12-31) (aged 95)Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Vatican CityBuriedVatican Grottoes, St. Peter's BasilicaEducationLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenMottoCooperatores veritatis(Latin for 'Cooperators of the truth')SignatureCoat of armsPhilosophical workEraContemporary philosophyRegionWestern philosophySchoolAugustinianismNouvelle théologieMain interestsChristian theologyEcclesiologyNotable worksJesus of NazarethIntroduction to ChristianityEschatologyDeus caritas estNotable ideasRejection of dehellenizationHermeneutic of continuityOrdination historyOther popes named BenedictEarly life and church careerEarly lifeArchbishop of Munich and FreisingPrefect of the CDFDominus IesusPontifical Biblical CommissionInternational Theological CommissionDean of the College of CardinalsPapacy2005 conclavePapal inaugurationPastoral visitsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCardinals createdCanonizationsBeatificationsCeremonial of Benedict XVIChristmas AlbumTheology and writingsTheologyBibliographyIntroduction to ChristianityEschatology: Death and Eternal LifeTruth and ToleranceThe Ratzinger ReportThe Spirit of the LiturgyJesus of NazarethFrom the Baptism in the Jordan to the TransfigurationHoly WeekThe Infancy NarrativesMagisterial documentsDeus caritas estSacramentum caritatisSpe salviCaritas in veritateVerbum DominiChurch governance and liturgySummorum PontificumAnglicanorum coetibusPapal election reforms of Pope Benedict XVIPontifical Council for Promoting the New EvangelizationVatileaks scandalEcumenism and interfaith relationsEcumenismJudaismIslamRegensburg lectureResignation, death, and legacyResignation of Pope Benedict XVIPope emeritus2013 conclaveMater Ecclesiae MonasteryDeath and funeral of Pope Benedict XVIBenevacantismRelated8661 RatzingerCoat of arms of Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 2005 until his resignation in 2013.
St. Peter's SquareSt. Peter's Square (Latin: Forum Sancti Petri, Italian: Piazza San Pietro) is a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the papalenclave in Rome, directly west of the neighborhood (rione) of Borgo. Both the square and the basilica are named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus whom Catholics consider the first pope. At the centre of the square is the Vatican obelisk, an ancient Egyptian obelisk erected at the current site in 1586.
MitreThe mitre (Commonwealth English) or miter (American English; see spelling differences; both pronounced ; Greek: μίτρα, romanized: mítra, lit.'headband') is a type of headgear now known as the traditional, ceremonial headdress of bishops and certain abbots in traditional Christianity.
Pope FrancisOrdersOrdination13 December 1969by Ramón José CastellanoConsecration27 June 1992by Antonio QuarracinoCreated cardinal21 February 2001by John Paul IIRankCardinal priestPersonal detailsBornJorge Mario Bergoglio(1936-12-17)17 December 1936Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDied21 April 2025(2025-04-21) (aged 88)Domus Sanctae Marthae, Vatican CityBuriedSanta Maria Maggiore, Rome, ItalyEducationMaximum College of St. JosephPhilosophical and Theological Faculty of San MiguelMilltown Institute of Theology and PhilosophySankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and TheologyMottoMiserando atque eligendo(Latin for 'By having mercy and by choosing')SignatureCoat of armsOrdination historyPapacy2013 conclaveBenevacantismPapal inaugurationPastoral visitsLampedusaCardinals createdCanonizationsJohn XXIII and John Paul IIBeatificationsVenerable people declaredYear of MercyTeachings and writingsTheologyBibliographyEncyclicalsLumen fideiLaudato si'Fratelli tuttiDilexit nosEvangelii gaudiumAmoris laetitiaGaudete et exsultateQuerida AmazoniaLaudate DeumHopeChurch governance and reformPraedicate evangeliumCouncil of CardinalsSynod on SynodalityInstitute for the Works of ReligionVos estis lux mundiTraditionis custodesFiducia supplicansSocial and moral issuesLGBTQ topicsCapital punishmentWorld Day of the PoorCanadian Indian residential school systemEcumenism and interfaith relationsEcumenism and interreligious dialogueDocument on Human FraternityDiplomacy and world affairsHoly See–United States relationsOrdo AmorisCuba–Holy See relationsChina–Holy See relationsHoly See–Palestine relationsAgreementGaza ChurchHoly See–Russia relationsRussian invasion of UkraineChild abductions in the Russo-Ukrainian warHealth, death, and legacyDeath and funeralReactions2025 conclavePope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025.
Papal ferulaThe papal ferula (; Latin ferula, 'rod') is the pastoral staff used in the Catholic Church by the pope. It is a rod with a knob on top surmounted by a cross. It differs from a crosier, the staff carried by other Latin Church bishops, which is curved or bent at the top in the style of a shepherd's crook.
Vatican CityEnclaved Holy See's independent city-stateVatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is a landlocked sovereign city-state in Southern Europe. Ruled by the pope, it is an enclave within the city of Rome, Italy, and serves as the administrative center of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is governed by the Holy See, the episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome and central authority of the church worldwide, which is itself a sovereign entity under international law.Laudes regiæThe laudes regiæ (English: "Royal Praises" or "Royal Acclamations") are a hymn used in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. There are variant texts, but they most often have the incipit that gives the hymn its alternative title: Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat (English: "Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands").
ChasubleThe chasuble () is the outermost liturgical vestment worn by clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist in Western-tradition Christian churches that use full vestments, primarily in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Eastern Catholic Churches, the equivalent vestment is the phelonion.
PalliumThe pallium (derived from the Roman pallium or palla, a woolen cloak; pl.: pallia) is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the pope, but for many centuries bestowed by the Holy See upon metropolitans and primates as a symbol of their conferred jurisdictional authorities; it remains a papal emblem. It is symbolic of the lamb which Jesus carries on his shoulders in artwork portraying him as the Good Shepherd.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.