Apapal coronation was the formal ceremony of the placing of thepapal tiara on a newly electedpope. The first recorded papal coronation was ofPope Nicholas I in 858.^[2] The most recent was the 1963coronation of Paul VI, who soon afterwards abandoned the practice of wearing the tiara. To date, none of his successors have used the tiara, and theirpapal inauguration celebrations have included no coronation ceremony, although any future pope may elect to restore the use of the tiara at any point during his pontificate.

The papal inauguration celebration, with or without a coronation, has only symbolic significance, as a pope assumes office immediately upon accepting his election during theconclave.

InSpanish, the termLa Coronación Pontificia (English: "Pontifical Coronation") is sometimes used for thecanonical coronation of religious images through a formal, expressed Pontifical decree by a reigning pope.

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When aconclave elects a new pope, he assumes all of the rights and authority of the papacy immediately upon his acceptance of election; however, popes traditionally numbered theirregnal years from the date of their coronation.^[3] If a newly elected pope is not a bishop, he isconsecrated at once. In accordance with tradition, the right of consecration belongs to thedean of the College of Cardinals, in his absence to the subdean, and in the absence of both of these to the seniorcardinal bishop.^[4] If the new pope is already a bishop, as is normally the case, his election isannounced immediately to the people gathered in Saint Peter's Square and he gives them his blessing.

In the 11th and 12th centuries, theimmantatio, or bestowal of themantum (a papal vestment consisting of a very long redcope fastened with an elaboratemorse) on the newly elected pope was regarded as especially symbolic of investiture with papal authority, and was conferred with the words: "I invest thee with the Roman papacy, that thou rule over the city and the world."^[5] This "mantling" with a red cope was first mentioned as an existing custom in 1061, in a letter fromPeter Damian toAntipope Cadalus. The garment was associated with the Roman Imperial insignia and theDonation of Constantine. The Archdeacon or Prior of Deacons performed the ceremony immediately after the election, as noted in the 1073 accession ofPope Gregory VII and ordines from 1189 and 1192.^[6]

Historically, the Cardinal Camerlengo placed theRing of the Fisherman on the finger of the new Pope immediately after his election, while requesting for the name that the new pope wished to take. After replying, the pope then removed the ring and handed it to the Master of Ceremonies to be engraved with his name. The ring, first mentioned as a long-standing custom in 1265, is therefore the Papal Ring of Investiture.^[7]

The coronation took place on the first Sunday or Holy Day following the election. It began with a solemnPapal Mass. During the chanting ofTerce, he sat on a throne and all of the cardinals made what was called their "firstobeisance" to him, approaching one by one and kissing his hand. Then thearchbishops andbishops approached and kissed his feet.

Following this, at least from the beginning of the 16th century, the newly elected pope was carried in state through St. Peter's Basilica on thesedia gestatoria under a white canopy, with the papalflabella (ceremonial fans) to either side. Instead of the papal tiara, he wore a jewelledmitre (the episcopalmitra pretiosa). Three times, the procession was stopped, and a bundle offlax lashed to a gilded staff was burnt before the newly elected pontiff, while amaster of ceremonies said:Pater Sancte,sic transit gloria mundi (Holy Father, thus passes the glory of the world) as a symbolic reminder to set aside materialism and vanity.^[8] Once at thehigh altar, he would begin to celebrateSolemn High Mass with fullpapal ceremonial.

After theConfiteor, the pope was seated on the sedia gestatoria, which was resting on the ground, and the three seniorcardinal bishops approached him wearing mitres. Each in turn placed his hands above him and said the prayer,Super electum Pontificem (over the elected pope). First theCardinal Bishop of Albano said:

God, who are present without distinction whenever the devout mind invokes you, be present, we ask you, we and this your servant, __, who to the summit of the apostolic community has been chosen as the judge of your people, infuse with the highest blessings that he experience your gift who has reached this point.^[9]

Then theCardinal Bishop of Porto said:

We supplicate you, Almighty God, effect your customary devotion and pour out on this your servant, __, the grace of the Holy Spirit that he who is constituted at the head of our church as the servant of the mystery, you would strengthen with the fullness of virtue.^[10]

Finally theCardinal Bishop of Ostia said:

God, who willed your Apostle Peter to hold first place in the inner fellowship of the apostles, that universal Christianity overcome evil, look propitiously we ask on this your servant, __, who from a humble position has suddenly been enthroned with the apostles on this same principal sublimity, that just as he has been raised to this exalted dignity, so may he likewise merit to accumulate virtue; in bearing the burden of the universal church, help him, make him worthy and for thee who are blessed may merits replace vices.^[11]

Then, the seniorcardinal deacon placed thepallium on his shoulders saying:

Accept the pallium, representing the plenitude of the Pontifical office, to the honour of Almighty God, and the most glorious Virgin Mary, his Mother, and the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and the Holy Roman Church.^[12][13]

After the investiture with the pallium, the pope incensed the high altar and then went to the throne, placed on the choir side, between the Altar of the Confession and the Altar of the Chair, and there, during the singing of the Kyrie, he received again the obeisance of the cardinals, archbishops and bishops. Then the Mass continued. After theGloria in excelsis and thePax vobis, the pope said theCollect for the day and then secretly a prayer for himself.^[14] After the pope had returned again to his seat thelitany asking the Saints to pray for the Pope were chanted:

As with all Papal High Masses, the Epistle and the Gospel were read in both Greek^[34] and Latin and the pope communicated at his throne.^[35]

After the Mass, the new pope was crowned with thepapal tiara. This frequently took place on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, overlooking the crowds gathered inSt. Peter's Square. The pope was seated on athrone with the flabella to either side of him. After theDean of the College of Cardinals recited a few prayers, including the Lord's Prayer and a collect, the seniorcardinal deacon, theprotodeacon, removed the pope's mitre and placed the tiara on his head with the words:

Accipe tiaram tribus coronis ornatam, et scias te esse patrem principum et regum, rectorem orbis in terra vicarium Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi, cui est honor et gloria in saecula saeculorum.
Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns, and know that you are the father of princes and kings, the ruler of the world, the vicar of our Savior Jesus Christ on earth, to whom be all honor and glory, world without end.^[36][37]

Following his coronation, the pope imparted the solemnpapal blessingUrbi et Orbi. Following 1929, the new pope would have received a salute by a guard of honour of theItalian Armed Forces and theSwiss Guards together with theNoble Guard, as military bands play thePontifical Anthem andIl Canto degli Italiani (until 1946 theMarcia Reale andS'hymnu sardu nationale).

The last act of the inauguration of a new pope was and still is the formal taking possession (possessio) of hiscathedra asBishop of Rome in theArchbasilica of St. John Lateran. This is the final ceremony mentioned in Pope John Paul II'sapostolic constitutionon the vacancy of the Apostolic See and the election of the Roman pontiff.^[38] The Lateran Basilica remains the cathedral of Rome, and the enthronement occurs there.^[39]

From the 11th century, excluding theAvignon Papacy, there existed a ceremony of taking possession of the Lateran which had special significance in the Church.^[40] The Vita ofPaschal II (elected 1099) and the Vita ofHonorius II (elected 1124), and other ceremonial books from the 12th century, describes how the pope, after his election and having been bestowed with the Papal mantum, rode to the Lateran Basilica. He was first conducted to a stone seat known as the "dunged seat" (stercorata, a symbol of humility referencing being raised "from the ash heap" as in 1 Samuel 2:8) placed at the entrance of the basilica, where he threw gold and silver coins to the people saying "this gold and silver are not given me for my own pleasure; what I have, I will give to you." The pope was then led to the throne in the apse of the church, where he received the cardinals at his feet and the kiss of peace. The pope proceeded to theLateran Palace where he reclined on twored marble chairs placed together, representing Saints Peter and Paul and imitating Byzantine imperial custom. The pope was handed thepapal ferula, the keys to the Lateran Basilica and Palace (representing also the power of binding and loosing in Matthew 18:18), and girded with a red cincture attached with a purple pouch containing musk (symbolising the "aroma of Christ" in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16) and seven or twelve seals, representing theSeven gifts of the Holy Spirit or thetwelve apostles. He then returned the ferula and received the officials of the Palace. Standing up, he again scattered silver coins to the people, saying "he scatters abroad, he gives to the poor, his righteousness endures for ever (2 Corinthians 9:9)."^[40] After a stampede duringPope Pius IV's enthronement,Pope Pius V changed the ceremony, assembling the poor atCampo Santo and handed each 3giuli instead of tossing coins.Gregory XIII andSixtus V replaced the ceremony with donations to charity institutions.^[41] During the Avignon Papacy, the Lateran chairs were left behind in Rome and unused; much of this ceremony was later abandoned entirely fromPope Leo X onward.^[40][42]

From Leo X's enthronement, the splendour of the procession to the Lateran itself became the focus of the ceremony rather than specific actions.^[43] The later enthronement focused on a horseback procession from the Vatican to the Lateran, preceded by the Blessed Sacrament on a white horse and under a baldachin,^[43] and light cavalry who cleared the way. The papal court, including the pope's domestic servants as well as barons and princes, rode with the pope. The pope, carrying theGolden Rose, proceeded on a white horse, whose bridle was held by a prince or barons, while the pope's cross was carried before him. Popes unable to ride were carried in a litter. Upon approaching the Lateran, the canons presented the pope with the two gold and silver keys to the basilica presented on a gilt bowl covered with flowers. He then ascended a throne at the entrance of the church, received the obeisance of the canons, and then was carried to the altar where he prayed and gave his blessing to the people. The pope again gave his blessing outside the church before changing to his ordinary dress and retiring.^[44][43][45] The procession was retained in its original splendour as late as Pope Pius IX's enthronement in 1846, who used a carriage instead of a white horse.^[46][47] During the "prisoner in the Vatican" period that followed, the enthronement in the Lateran did not take place.^[48]

The enthronement of the Pope was originally a requisite before the newly-elected pope took part in the governance of the church; untilPope Nicholas II, popes were forbidden to govern until the enthronement had been completed. In 1059, Nicholas II declared that the enthronement was not necessary for the pope to assume administration of the church.^[49]

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The earliest papal coronations took place inSt. John Lateran, the pope'scathedral. However, for hundreds of years papal coronations have traditionally taken place in the environs ofSt. Peter's Basilica, though a number of coronations took place inAvignon, during theAvignon papacy. Earlier,Pope Celestine V was twice crowned inL'Aquila.^[1] In 1800Pope Pius VII was crowned in the crowded church of theBenedictine islandmonastery of San Giorgio,Venice, after his late predecessor,Pope Pius VI, had been forced into temporary exile duringNapoleon Bonaparte's capture of Rome. Since the French seized the tiara along with the previous pope, he was crowned with apapier-mâché tiara, for which the ladies of Venice gave up their jewels.

All coronations after 1800 took place in Rome.Leo XIII was crowned in theSistine Chapel,^[50] due to fears that anti-clerical mobs, inspired byItalian unification, might attack the Basilica and disrupt the ceremony.Benedict XV was also crowned in the chapel in 1914.Pius XI was crowned at the dais in front of the High Altar in St. Peter's Basilica. PopesPius IX,Pius XII, andJohn XXIII all were crowned in public on the balcony of the basilica, facing crowds assembled below inSt. Peter's Square.Paul VI was crowned in front of St Peter's on a special dais with the entire coronation ceremony outdoors, as St Peter's was filled with special seating for the Vatican Council sessions.

Pius XII's 1939 coronation broke new ground by being the first to be filmed and the first to be broadcast live on radio.^[51] The ceremony, which lasted for six hours, was attended by leading dignitaries; these included the heir to the Italian throne, thePrince of Piedmont, formerkingsFerdinand I of Bulgaria andAlfonso XIII of Spain,the 16th Duke of Norfolk (representingKing George VI of the United Kingdom), and theIrishTaoiseach,Éamon de Valera, the last two being inevening dress (white tie and tails).

The last pope to be crowned wasPope Paul VI. He decided to cease wearing a papal tiara and laid his own on the altar of St. Peter's Basilica in a gesture of humility. His 1975apostolic constitution,Romano Pontifici Eligendo prescribed that "the new pontiff is to be crowned by the senior cardinal deacon".^[52]

His successor,Pope John Paul I, opted not to be crowned and to have instead a less elaborate "solemn Mass to mark the start of his ministry as Supreme Pastor" in September 1978.^[53][54]

After John Paul I's sudden death following a thirty-three-dayreign, the new pope,John Paul II, opted to copy his predecessor's ceremony without coronation. In his homily at his inauguration Mass, he said that Paul VI had "left his successors free to decide" whether to wear the papal tiara.^[55] He went on:

Pope John Paul I, whose memory is so vivid in our hearts, did not wish to have the tiara; nor does his Successor wish it today. This is not the time to return to a ceremony and an object considered, wrongly, to be a symbol of the temporal power of the Popes.

John Paul II's 1996apostolic constitution,Universi Dominici gregis, now in force, does not specify the form that the "solemn ceremony of the inauguration of the pontificate"^[56] of a new pope should take, whether with or without a coronation.^{[citation needed]}

A number of papal tiaras are available for a future pope to use.^[57]

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