Thoughts on the Tiara

From Dieter (http://www.dieter-philippi.de/).

On the Internet there are several sites with bits on the reinstitution/reintroduction of the papal tiara.

As an internationally recognized and renowned expert on religious, clerical and ecclesiastical headgear please allow me to emphasize the following points:

1.

ROMANO PONTIFICI ELIGENDO

PAULUS PP. VI

DE SEDE APOSTOLICA VACANTE

DEQUE ELECTIONE ROMANI PONTIFICIS

92. Pontifex demum per Cardinalem Protodiaconum coronatur et, intra congruum tempus, Patriarchalis Archibasilicae Lateranensis possessionem ritu praescripto capit.

[92. Finally, the Pontiff will be crowned by the Senior Cardinal Deacon, and, within an appropriate time, will take possession of the Patriarchal Archbasilica of the Lateran, according to the ritual prescribed.]

Even though H.H. Pope Paul VI laid down his tiara on the confessio altar on November 13, 1964, the coronation rite was not abolished by him.

2.

In former times the custom was for the faithful of the birthplace of a new pope to give him as a gift a new tiara. The tiara of H.H. Pope Paul VI was was given to him by the faithful from the diocese of Milan.

3.

Even H.H. Pope John Paul II had a tiara which was given to him by the faithful from Hungary in 1981.

You can see a picture of this tiara:  here

There was no coronation and the pope never worn this tiara.

BUT: It was given to him and is stored in the private sacristy of the popes in the Vatican and stands as an everlasting tribute. 

4.

Even if some people point out that H.H. Pope Benedict XVI has replaced the tiara on some renditions of his coat-of-arms by a mitre, this does not mean that the Pope is "against" the use of or the rich symbolism and meaning of the tiara. Many of us agree that today is not the exact time for a return to the coronation rite as this message would not be understood correctly by the world.

Every Roman Catholic ought to read the book "The Inaugural Address of the American Papess", written by Esther Vilar in 1982. After this reading you will understand how important it is that we preserve our rites, signs, symbols, icons and ancient customs.

5.

A wonderful book which describes the history of the tiara was written by Father Bernhard Sirch. The title is "Der Ursprung der bischöflichen Mitra und päpstlichen Tiara" (published by EOS Verlag, St. Ottilien, Germany, 1975, ISBN 3-920289-57-9). Unfortunately, this book was never translated into English, but to really understand the tiara, its history and its symbolism, this book is a must.

Visit Father Sirch at his site and see him talking to the Pope, H.H. Benedict XVI.

To Sum Up:

After Hadrian VI (1522 - 1523), 500 years laster, we again have a German pope. It should be a honour and a privilege for proud German Catholics to commission and give this historic Pope a new tiara.

The tiara should be presented to the Pope during a general audience.

After this there are several possibilities:

The tiara could be exhibited in the Vatican Museums or the public treasury at St. Peter's where countless pilgrims and tourists can admire it.

Or, it could be given to the birthplace of the future Pope: Geburtshaus in Marktl am Inn, the birthplace of Joseph Ratzinger.

Perhaps a Bavarian artist could design the new tiara? Instead of using very expensive gem-stones or precious metals, perhaps typical rocks or stones related to Bavaria or Marktl am Inn or Altötting could be used?

It would be a distinct honour and an unrepetable chance for German Catholics to start such a project immediately!