By Ramon Antonio Vargas, The Times-Picayune, June 29, 2009
CNS PHOTO / L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO – Pope Benedict XVI greets U.S. Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans after presenting a pallium to him during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican June 29. During the Mass, 34 archbishops from 20 countries knelt before the pope and received a pallium, a woolen band worn around their shoulders as a sign of their authority and their responsibility as shepherds.
ROME – The first native-son Catholic archbishop in New Orleans history knelt before Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on Monday and received an important symbol of pastoral duty.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond received the pallium at St. Peter’s Basilica as the Vatican celebrated the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the day of the year when the Roman Catholic Church vests all its newly appointed archbishops with the symbol of their authority.
Aymond described the moment when the pope placed the woolen band over his shoulders as a “powerful and touching event, ” according to a statement issued by the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Aymond told a reporter with the Catholic News Service that wearing a pallium similar to the pope’s while he “pledged his obedience and respect to him as the vicar of Christ” moved him and made him feel connected to the pope.
The pallium dates to the 4th century, according to the Catholic Church. Modern pallia are 2 inch-wide circular bands worn around the neck, chest and shoulders. Two pendants about 2 inches wide and 12 inches long hang from the bands, one in front and one in back.
The bands are made from blessed lamb wool, to symbolize the archbishop’s role as a shepherd, according to the Catholic Church.
Only the pope and metropolitan archbishops may wear a pallium. Aymond will wear his only on specified Catholic feast days such as Christmas.
Aymond, a graduate of Notre Dame Seminary, was named to replace Archbishop Alfred Hughes on June 12. He became the 17th spiritual leader of the Catholic community around New Orleans and its 14th archbishop.
Hughes retains the title archbishop and is the archdiocese’s apostolic administrator until Aug. 20, when Aymond’s installation Mass will take place at St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter.
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/new_orleans_
new_archbishop_is.html
New Orleans’ New Archbishop is Blessed by Pope
By Ramon Antonio Vargas, The Times-Picayune, June 29, 2009
CNS PHOTO / L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO – Pope Benedict XVI greets U.S. Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans after presenting a pallium to him during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican June 29. During the Mass, 34 archbishops from 20 countries knelt before the pope and received a pallium, a woolen band worn around their shoulders as a sign of their authority and their responsibility as shepherds.
ROME – The first native-son Catholic archbishop in New Orleans history knelt before Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on Monday and received an important symbol of pastoral duty.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond received the pallium at St. Peter’s Basilica as the Vatican celebrated the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the day of the year when the Roman Catholic Church vests all its newly appointed archbishops with the symbol of their authority.
Aymond described the moment when the pope placed the woolen band over his shoulders as a “powerful and touching event, ” according to a statement issued by the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Aymond told a reporter with the Catholic News Service that wearing a pallium similar to the pope’s while he “pledged his obedience and respect to him as the vicar of Christ” moved him and made him feel connected to the pope.
The pallium dates to the 4th century, according to the Catholic Church. Modern pallia are 2 inch-wide circular bands worn around the neck, chest and shoulders. Two pendants about 2 inches wide and 12 inches long hang from the bands, one in front and one in back.
The bands are made from blessed lamb wool, to symbolize the archbishop’s role as a shepherd, according to the Catholic Church.
Only the pope and metropolitan archbishops may wear a pallium. Aymond will wear his only on specified Catholic feast days such as Christmas.
Aymond, a graduate of Notre Dame Seminary, was named to replace Archbishop Alfred Hughes on June 12. He became the 17th spiritual leader of the Catholic community around New Orleans and its 14th archbishop.
Hughes retains the title archbishop and is the archdiocese’s apostolic administrator until Aug. 20, when Aymond’s installation Mass will take place at St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter.
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/new_orleans_
new_archbishop_is.html