THE PAPAL CORONATION
The rite of the coronation of a Pope seems to date from the time when
the western Patriarchs began to make definite claims to a temporal
sovereignty. The rite does not appear till the ninth century, but
probably existed in some form for a century before this date. Already in
the _Liber Pontificalis_[146] it is stated that Pope Constantine wore
during his visit to Constantinople a head-dress peculiar to the Roman
Pope. This is called the Camelaucus, and is evidently the original form
of the Tiara. In the ‘Donation of Constantine’ of the pseudo-Isidorian
decretals[147], in which the Papal temporal claims were first formulated,
Constantine the Great is said to have granted to the Pope the sovereignty
of the West and to have bestowed on him and his successors a special
royal diadem, which is described as ‘phrigium candido nitore splendidum,’
evidently the camelaucus under a different name, a closed head-dress
something of the shape of a Phrygian cap, and probably related to the
Crown of the eastern bishop. Although the ‘Donation’ does not mention any
ceremony of coronation, perhaps one is implied by this claim that the
Papal head-gear is a temporal crown.
In the ninth century the rite existed and is described in Mabillon’s
Ordo Romanus IX[148]. The ceremony never became so elaborate as a royal
coronation. The Pope elect, who must not be a bishop, enters St Peter’s
during the Introit _Elegit te Dominus_. His consecration as a bishop then
takes place. Three special prayers are said for him by three different
bishops[149]. The archdeacon then invests him with the Pallium (i.e. the
ecclesiastical vestment), and he is enthroned on a specially prepared
throne. The new Pope celebrates Mass himself, and after the _Gloria in
excelsis_ the Laudes are sung. When Mass is over he is enthroned upon the
apostolic throne. Then he proceeds to the steps at the west end of St
Peter’s, and after the acclamation thrice repeated _Domnus Leo Papa quem
Sanctus Petrus elegit in sua sede multis annis sedere_, he is crowned
with the Regnum or Tiara, which is described as being white and shaped
like a helmet. He then mounts a horse and returns to his palace amid the
acclamations of the people.
The rite seems to have changed very little in the process of time.
Ordo XII[150], which is of the twelfth century, gives a little more
information. On the Sunday after his election the Pope proceeds to St
Peter’s, and there before the high altar is consecrated bishop by the
Bishop of Ostia and other bishops. The consecration over, the Cardinal
Deacon of St Laurence places the Pallium on the high altar, whence the
Archdeacon takes it and invests the Pope in it saying: _Accipe pallium,
plenitudinem scilicet pontificalis officii, ad honorem omnipotentis Dei
et gloriosissimae Virginis eius genitricis et beatorum apostolorum Petri
et Pauli et sanctas Romanae ecclesiae_. The Pope then celebrates Mass.
After the Laudes, the Epistle and Gospel are read both in Latin and
Greek. Mass being finished, the Pope returns to his palace with the Tiara
on his head, but there is no indication of any ceremonial crowning having
taken place.
Ordo XIV[151] of the fourteenth century is fuller. The Pope is now
generally already a bishop at the time of his election. The newly-elected
Pope proceeds to St Peter’s and begins Mass. After the _Confiteor_ he
takes his seat before a faldstool between his throne and the altar,
and there prayers are said for him by the Cardinal Bishops of Albano,
Porto and Ostia. First the Bishop of Albano says the prayer: _Deus qui
adesse non dedignaris ubicumque devota mente invocaris, adesto quaesumus
invocationibus nostris et huic famulo tuo N. quem ad culmen apostolicum
commune iudicium tuae plebis elegit ubertatem supernae benedictionis
infunde, ut sentiat se tuo munere ad hunc apicem pervenisse_. Next the
Bishop of Porto says the second prayer, _Supplicationibus, Omnipotens
Deus, effectum consuetae pietatis impende, et gratia Spiritus Sancti hunc
famulum tuum N. perfunde; ut qui in capite ecclesiarum nostrae servitutis
mysterio constituitur, tuae virtutis soliditate roboretur_. The Bishop
of Ostia says the third prayer, _Deus qui Apostolum tuum Petrum
inter caeteros coapostolos primatum tenere voluisti, eique universae
Christianitatis molem superimposuisti; respice propitius quaesumus
hunc famulum tuum N. quem de humili cathedra violenter sublimatum in
thronum eiusdem apostolorum principis sublimamus: ut sicut profectibus
tantae dignitatis augetur, ita virtutum meritis cumuletur; quatenus
ecclesiasticae universitatis onus, te adiuvante, digne ferat, et a te qui
es beatitudo tuorum meritam vicem recipiat_.
The Pope now receives the reverence of the Cardinals and Prelates
present, who kiss his foot and face. He then goes to the altar where the
Cardinal Deacon of St Laurence invests him in the Pallium, with the form
already given. He then goes up to the altar and censes it, and returns
to his seat, where he receives again the reverence of the Cardinals and
Prelates. He then begins _Gloria in excelsis_, and says _Pax vobis_
and the Collect for the day and says secretly for himself another
prayer[152]. Then he returns to his seat and the Laudes are sung:
_Exaudi Christe._
_Domino nostro N. a Deo decreto summo Pontifici et universali Papae vita._
_Salvator mundi._ ℟. _Tu illum adiuva (ter)._
_Sancta Maria._ ℟. _Tu illum adiuva (bis)._
_Sancte Michael._ ℟. _Tu illum adiuva, etc., etc._
After the Laudes have been sung, Mass proceeds, the Epistle and Gospel
being read in Greek as well as in Latin. At the conclusion of the Mass
the Pope goes in procession to the staging erected on the steps at
the west end of the Basilica of St Peter. There the ‘Prior diaconorum
cardinalium’ removes his mitre, and sets the Tiara or Regnum, which
is by this time adorned with three crowns, on his head, the people
crying _Kyrie eleison_. The Pope then blesses the people and returns on
horseback to the Lateran.
This represents the final stage of the rite, except for one picturesque
feature added in the fifteenth or sixteenth century. As the Pope leaves
the chapel of St Gregory for his consecration, the Ceremoniarius lights a
piece of tow on the end of a reed which flares for a moment and then goes
out, saying, _Pater Sancte, sic transit gloria mundi_[153].
It will be seen that the Papal rite is very simple. It is clear that the
ceremonies, with the Laudes and other acclamations[154], owe much to the
Imperial coronation rite of early times, but have undergone very little
change or development since the ninth century.