Title VIII: On the Authority and Use of the Pallium

Latin source headnote: An archbishop can use the pallium within any church of his province, but he cannot use it outside the province.

Clement III.

Concerning a certain matter (And below: [cf. c. 8, On the Alienation of Ecclesiastical Property, III.13.]) You also asked how that which is contained in the form for the delivery of the pallium is to be understood, namely: “We deliver the pallium to you so that you may use it within your church.” This is understood thus: “within your church,” namely, within any church of the province committed to you. But if it happens that, clothed in sacred vestments, you leave the church processionally or in another manner, then you ought by no means to use the pallium. [Given at the Lateran, in the third year, 1193.]

Textual note: The source attributes the decretal to Clement III but dates it to 1193, after Clement’s pontificate. The translation preserves both printed statements rather than silently reconciling them.

Latin source headnote: An archbishop cannot lend his pallium to another archbishop.

Celestine III.

As to the fact that it has been asked of us on your behalf whether it is lawful for you to lend your pallium to another metropolitan if it should happen that he comes without his own pallium to the church committed to you on some principal solemnity and celebrates the solemnities of Mass in that church: although we do not recall having found an express canon concerning this, nevertheless we answer your inquiry in such a manner that it does not seem fitting for you to lend your pallium to anyone, since the pallium does not pass beyond the person, but each person ought, as your discretion knows, to be buried with it.

Latin source headnote: Through the pallium are conferred the fullness of the pontifical office and the archiepiscopal name.

Innocent III to C., Cardinal-priest and Legate of the Apostolic See.

Unless that special affection (And below: [cf. c. 8, On the Office of a Legate, I.30.]) Indeed, even if the postulation of our venerable brother, the Bishop of Troia and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Sicily, to the church of Palermo had been approved by us, he nevertheless ought not call himself archbishop before he had received the pallium from us, in which the fullness of the pontifical office is conferred together with the appellation of the archiepiscopal name. You, therefore, as a provident and discreet man, are to take care so to cloak what has been done that it does not redound to your confusion and the reproach of the Apostolic See, because, if it is necessary that either we or you be confounded by this business, we shall choose that you be confounded rather than that we injure the dignity of the Apostolic See.

Latin source headnote: The Roman Pontiff uses the pallium always and everywhere; others use it only in their own churches and on certain days.

The same.

For the honor of God [almighty, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of the lord Pope Innocent and the Roman Church, and also of the church committed to you, we deliver to you the pallium taken from the body of blessed Peter, namely the insignia of the fullness of the pontifical office, which you are to use for the solemnities of Mass within the churches subject to you on the Nativity of the Lord, the feast of Stephen the Protomartyr, the Circumcision of the Lord, the Epiphany, the Hypapante, Palm Sunday, the Supper of the Lord, Holy Saturday, Easter, the second weekday after Easter, the Ascension of the Lord, Pentecost, the three feasts of Saint Mary, the Nativity of blessed John the Baptist, the solemnities of all the Apostles, the Commemoration of All Saints, dedications of churches, ordinations of clerics, the principal feasts of your church, and the anniversary of your consecration.]

Indeed, the Roman Pontiff alone always and everywhere uses the pallium in the solemnities of Mass, because he has been assumed into the fullness of ecclesiastical power, which is signified by the pallium. Others, however, ought to use it neither always nor everywhere, but in their own church, in which they have received ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and on certain days, because they have been called into a share of solicitude, not into the fullness of power.

Latin source headnote: An archbishop cannot use the pallium outside his province, even if custom supports this.

The same to the Archbishop of Compostela.

We have learned from the tenor of your letters that, although in the grant of the pallium it was said to you that you were to use it within your church, nevertheless, because you frequently sojourn outside your province both by royal mandate and for attending to the business of your church, it is embarrassing for you to minister without the pallium. Since, as you assert, there is a general custom in Spain that archbishops use the pallium outside their provinces without distinction, you petitioned that the Apostolic See grant you permission to use the pallium outside your province.

Although a use of this kind is an abuse, such a custom is to be called a corruption instead, and those who use their palliums outside their provinces without the special license of the Apostolic See are known to offend gravely, nevertheless, by special grace we grant you that, if at any time, impeded by some necessity, you should perhaps be unable to approach a church subject to you for the purpose of consecrating your suffragans or ordaining clerics, and it should happen that you turn aside for this purpose to the church of another, provided that the person to whom the church belongs permits it, you shall have free faculty to use the pallium in the aforesaid cases. [Given at the Lateran, on the fourth day before the Nones of April, in the year 1209.]

Latin source headnote: In any church of his province, on the permitted days, an archbishop celebrating Mass can use the pallium.

The same.

Since you are in the most remote regions, we hold it pleasing and acceptable that, in your actions, whenever a scruple of doubt arises, etc. (And below:) You should therefore know that, where necessity requires, you may consecrate both several altars in one church and several bishops at the same time; and wherever you are situated in celebrations of Mass, on solemn days you may more freely exercise the use of the pallium, through which the fullness of the pontifical office is signified.

Latin source headnote: An archbishop can celebrate without the pallium and sandals.

Honorius III to the Archbishop of Lund.

Because we (And below: [cf. the final chapter, On Apostates, V.9.]) We answer your inquiry in this manner: both in your own and in another diocese you can celebrate without the pallium and sandals, for assuredly in your own diocese you ought not always celebrate with the pallium, but only on those days which are expressed in the privileges of your church. And thus the fourth question is resolved, by which you asked whether it is lawful for you to celebrate for the dead with the pallium. [Given at Rieti, on the third day before the Ides of August, 1225.]

Textual note: The source abbreviates the addressee as Archiepiscopo Tri.; the matching dated letter is identified in the Danish regesta as addressed to the Archbishop of Lund.