Papal coronation

"Pontifical coronation" redirects here. For the expressed rite of ceremoniously crowning Catholic images by the pope, see Canonical coronation.
Coronation of Celestine V, the only pope to be crowned twice.[1]

A papal coronation is the formal ceremony of the placing of the papal tiara on a newly elected pope. The first recorded papal coronation was of Pope Nicholas I in 858.[2] The most recent was the 1963 coronation of Paul VI, who soon afterwards abandoned the practice of wearing the tiara. To date, none of his successors have used the tiara, and their papal inauguration celebrations have included no coronation ceremony, although any future pope may elect to restore the use of the tiara at any point during his pontificate.

The papal inauguration celebration, with or without a coronation, has only symbolic significance, as a pope assumes office immediately on giving his consent to a valid election.

In Spanish, the term La Coronación Pontificia (English: "Pontifical Coronation") is sometimes used for the canonical coronation of religious images through a formal, expressed Pontifical decree by a reigning pope.

  1. ^ "Catholic Encyclopedia, "Pope Celestine V, Saint"". Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  2. ^ Kazimierz Dopierała, Księga Papieży, Poznań 1996, p. 104.