Pope Leo XIV bestows the Pallium on Vienna's Archbishop Grünwidl

The Pallium is a narrow woollen band that newly appointed metropolitans receive as a sign of their bond with the Pope and of their pastoral responsibility. According to ancient tradition, the wool comes from lambs that are blessed on 21 January in Piazza Sant'Agnese, which is why they are also referred to as "Agnus lambs." The Latin term "Pallium" means "cloak."

In his homily, Pope Leo XIV underscored the symbolic significance of the Pallium for priestly ministry. The woollen band expresses the obligation of every shepherd to take upon his shoulders the brothers and sisters entrusted to him as lambs of the Lord's flock, the Pope said. He added verbatim: "Dieses Wollband bringt die Verpflichtung eines jeden Hirten - aber auch eines jeden Christen - zum Ausdruck, die ihm anvertrauten Brüder und Schwestern ebenso wie Lämmer der Herde des Herrn auf seine Schultern zu nehmen und für sie Energie, Zeit, Mühe und sogar das Leben zu opfern, damit das Evangelium alle erreicht und die ganze Welt darin Harmonie und Eintracht findet".

Further Recipients from Europe and the United States

Alongside Grünwidl, several metropolitans from around the world received the Pallium on Tuesday. According to Kathpress, the other recipients included Prague's Archbishop Stanislav Pribyl, New York's Archbishop Ronald Hicks, as well as the two Polish archbishops Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Kraków and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski of Łódź.

Personal Significance for Grünwidl

According to the Archdiocese of Vienna, the date of 29 June holds particular personal significance for Grünwidl. On exactly this date, on 29 June 1988, he received priestly ordination in Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral from Cardinal Franz König. König, who lived from 1905 to 2004, was at the time Archbishop of Vienna and ordained Grünwidl as a priest.

The choice of 29 June as the date for the bestowal of the Pallium is closely tied to the history of Rome and the Vatican. The memorial day of Saints Peter and Paul, who according to tradition died as martyrs in Rome around the year 64, is a public holiday in Rome and the Vatican. Peter and Paul are regarded as the patron saints of the city.

Connection to Church History

For Grünwidl, the bestowal marks another highlight in his path at the head of the Archdiocese of Vienna. As metropolitan, he has since worn the Pallium on solemn occasions. The Archdiocese of Vienna had previously pointed out in a press release the personal connection of the date to Grünwidl's priestly ordination.

Schönborn's participation in the celebration in Rome underscores the bond of the Austrian Church with the Holy See. Schönborn previously held the office of Archbishop of Vienna before Grünwidl and remains active in the universal Catholic Church as a cardinal.