Archbishop Richard Moth describes ‘moving’ ceremony when he received pallium from Pope Leo in Rome

Back in London, the Archbishop of Westminster spoke to The Tablet about receiving the pallium during Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, at the end of the latest consistory.

On Monday of this week, Archbishop Moth was among 35 metropolitan archbishops from around the world who received the pallium, the band of white wool marked with six black crosses and worn around the shoulders as a symbol of the archbishop’s responsibility to shepherd the faithful.

Pope Leo said, “These bands of white wool adorned with crosses express the commitment of every shepherd and also of every Christian to take upon their shoulders the brothers and sisters entrusted to them, like so many lambs of the Lord’s flock, and to sacrifice their energy, time, effort and even their lives for them.”

Archbishop Richard Moth received Pallium from Pope Leo alongside 35 Archbishops from around the world. Photo copyright Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

After returning to London, Archbishop Moth spoke out about the significance of the pallium at Archbishop’s House, Westminster. Under Pope Francis, a newly-appointed archbishop would receive their pallium from their Papal Nuncio after it was shipped out from Rome.

In a move welcomed by many, Pope Leo XIV has restored recent tradition to the ceremony, returning it to Rome and to the Feast of St Peter and St Paul as was the norm under other recent popes, marking its symbol of unity with the successor of St Peter.

Archbishop Moth valued the opprtunity to meet in person with new archbishops from around the world, also there to receive their palliums, including several from the US, South America and Canada.

“In a sense, the whole world was there,” he said. “The Holy Father had called a consistory of cardinals the week before. So all the cardinals were there, and the last Mass of the meeting was the concelebrated Mass where the pallium was distributed.”

To receive the pallium from the Holy Father “was really, really, very moving,” he said.

“Down through history, the pallium’s been given in different ways. Centuries ago, it would have been sent by courier, some chap on a horse, across Europe to deliver it, because people couldn’t get there, but the practice of receiving it from the Holy Father, I found very moving.”

He described a “very simple” liturgy.

“The archbishops made a profession of solidarity and commitment to the Holy Father. And then we just went up and he put it on, said peace be with you, and with your spirit. Then off you go.”

Made of unbleached wool, Archbishop Moth said the pallium thus combined the image of the sheep, with all it symbolises, with that of the three heavy metal pins designed to symbolise the nails in the cross, which give the sense of the archbishop “being called by Christ to pick up the cross and follow him”.

He was particularly moved by “that very personal moment of receiving this symbol of unity with the Holy Father from the Holy Father”.

Archbishop Moth returns to Rome soon after the summer for meetings, including one with other presidents of bishops’ conferences from around the world.

Stay updated — add us as a preferred news source on Google: