OFFICE FOR THE LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF

INTERVIEW WITH MSGR. GUIDO MARINI,
MASTER OF PONTIFICAL LITURGICAL CEREMONIES
FOR “INSIDE THE VATICAN”

Włodzimierz Rędzioch

"The next consistory – changes and clarifications"

Until the present day the ceremony of creating new cardinals has been regulated by liturgical norms established by Paul VI in 1969. What did these norms prescribe?

Monsignor Guido Marini:

- Under Paul VI consistorial rites took on a simpler and more austere form than they had had under previous pontificates, though retaining their essential features. In fact, the consistory had preserved the oath, the imposition of the berretta, instead of the hat, and the assignation of the titular church or deaconship even though the distinction between public and secret consistory had disappeared. The consignment of the ring, on the other hand, took place during the Mass celebrated by the pope along with the new cardinals the day after the consistory.

Benedict XVI thought it proper to make some changes. What are these changes about and what is their meaning?

- The present changes have been introduced on the assumption that throughout the history of the Church the consistory has never been regarded as a liturgical ceremony, but as the assemblage of the cardinals around the pope to deal with the government of the Church: it is therefore entrusted with munus regendi i.e. the office of government, not with munus sanctificandi i.e. the sanctifying function. In this sense and in keeping with the present form of the consistory and its main elements the Holy Father has passed the change in the rite of creating new cardinals, having the changes introduced by Paul VI in 1969 as his reference point.

After some changes in the accepted practice of the latest consistories, it is in fact prescribed that the pope should wear his choir dress with a mozzetta and stole. For the two prayers at the beginning and end of the rite the 1969 texts, which are part of the Euchologion of the great Roman tradition, have been restored. These texts, which feature in the Codex Veronensis or Sacramentarium Leonianum i.e. Leonian Sacramentary, are read during the Mass celebrated on the anniversary of the Episcopal ordination of the bishop of Rome. The prayers in these texts make explicit reference to the power given to the Church, to Peter’s successor in particular. Whilst in the opening prayer the pope prays directly for himself that he may discharge his task properly as Peter’s successor, in the closing prayer he invokes God’s blessing on the new cardinals.

The announcement of God’s word will be restored to its shorter version, in conformity with the 1969 rite, with the evangelical pericope alone (Mark 10, 32 – 45). One reading and the responsorial psalm will be omitted. Finally, the cardinals will be given the ring along with the berretta and the titular church or deaconship during the consistory.

Another noteworthy change introduced at the beginning of the ceremony is the Holy Father’s moment of prayer on the Apostle Peter’s tomb below the Papal Altar.

Is it true that Benedict XVI has decided to give a new type of ring to the new cardinals?

- The Holy Father will give a new type of ring to the new cardinals; it will bear the images of Saint Peter and Saint Paul with a star in the middle, standing for the Blessed Virgin. The new rings will be smaller than the old ones, hence easier to wear.

Are there any changes in the Mass celebrated by the Pope with the new cardinals the day after the consistory?