Wednesday 25 June 2008 

The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced that on 29 June, the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate the Eucharist at 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I is also scheduled to participate in the ceremony.

Bartholomew I and the Holy Father will deliver the homily, recite the profession of faith and impart the final blessing. The Pontiff will concelebrate with 43 new Catholic metropolitan archbishops, upon whom he will impose the pallium.

Receiving the pallium is a 1,700 year old tradition reserved for the Pope and archbishops.  When the archbishop receives the strip of cloth made of lamb’s wool, it signifies the archbishop’s role as shepherd over his respective archdiocese.

Just the day before, the Pope will have inaugurated the Pauline Year by celebrating Vespers at the Roman basilica of St Paul's Outside-the-Walls.

[CNA]