Martin is the Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand.

He had been expecting to receive the pallium from the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa. But Rugambwa - the Pope's diplomatic representative in New Zealand - suffered a severe stroke on 27 October and is in Wellington Hospital.

Initially, in Rugambwa's absence, there was some confusion about whether the ceremony would proceed.

However, clarification came when Martin chose the Bishop of Auckland and President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, Stephen Lowe, to confer the pallium.

A metropolitan archbishop wears the pallium whenever he is present at a liturgical ceremony as Metropolitan. He also wears it for archdiocesan ceremonies such as the Chrism Mass and any major ceremonies at the Metropolitan Cathedral.

"It's an ancient part of our Church tradition and I am extremely humble wearing it today" Martin told the crowded church in his homily during the Mass.

The pallium - a white band of lamb's wool adorned with black crosses, worn over the shoulders and chasuble - is the traditional, historic insignia of a metropolitan archbishop of the Catholic Church. It is bestowed by the Pope.

Pallium history in the Archdiocese of Wellington

Cardinal Reginald Delargy received his pallium at the 75th Jubilee of Holy Cross College, the National Seminary in Mosgiel, Dunedin.

Cardinal Tom Williams' pallium arrived by mail, while Cardinal John Dew received his at the hands of Pope Francis on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome.

Pope Francis has more recently returned to the tradition of blessing the palliums on that feast day.

He then sends them to the papal nuncio in each country for the nuncio to confer upon the local Metropolitan Archbishop at a suitable moment.

Archbishop Paul Martin, wearing his Pallium

History of the Pallium

Every year, on the feast of St Agnes (21 January) two lambs are brought from Tre Fontane, the site of St Paul's martyrdom. The lambs are brought to the Basilica of St Agnes on the Via Nomentana in Rome.

After the lambs are blessed, they are taken and presented to the Pope.

They then remain in the care of the Sisters who reside at the Basilica of St Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome.

Just before Easter, these lambs are shorn, and their wool is used in making the palliums for newly-appointed metropolitan archbishops.

Once entirely handmade by the Sisters, the sheer number of archbishops needing a pallium each year has made it impossible to continue with that practice.

Instead, the Sisters select a company to manufacture them.

Each pallium contains a portion of the wool shorn from the two lambs.

• Supplied: NZCBC

This marks a departure from the tradition of archbishops travelling to Rome to receive the pallium directly from the Pope. Instead, Martin will receive it by mail.

The pallium is a distinctive garment consisting of white woollen bands, approximately two inches wide, adorned with 12-inch pendants. It is worn over the chasuble.

The Pope confers the pallium upon archbishops and bishops with metropolitan jurisdiction. While it does not elevate the archbishop's status, it serves as a tangible representation of the unity between Rome and the local church.

According to reports from America Magazine, Pope Francis believes that this modified ceremony encourages the active participation of the local Church in a significant moment of its life and history.

Additionally, Francis sees this new custom as a way to advance the synodal journey further.

Traditionally, palliums are blessed annually on June 29, during the Feast of Sts Peter and Paul. Before the blessing, the palliums are placed on St Peter's tomb beneath the basilica's high altar.

During a homily at the ceremony of blessing, Pope Francis urged the archbishops to be like Peter and Paul.

He highlighted Peter's unwavering response of "follow" to Jesus' call, while noting that Paul's mission was to "proclaim and preach" the Gospel.

While several of the 32 new archbishops joined Francis for the occasion, they will still receive their pallium from their nuncio in their home archdiocese.

Archbishop Martin's pallium is yet to arrive.

He will receive it in a special pallium ceremony that will take place at the metropolitan pro-cathedral of St Teresa in Karori, Wellington.

Source

• Supplied
• America Magazine

"Like Paul, we are called to be set free from hypocritical outward show, free from the temptation to present ourselves with worldly power rather than with the weakness that makes space for God, free from a religiosity that makes us rigid and inflexible; free from dubious associations with power and from the fear of being misunderstood and attacked," Francis told them. Continue reading