Ruch Biblijny i Liturgiczny • Volume 72 • Number 1 • 2019 • 17–64 https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.3616 Sollemnia Coronatio Summi Pontificis. The “Ordines” of the Coronation Masses of Popes John XXIII and Paul VI Bartłomiej Krzysztof Krzych University of Rzeszow
[email protected] http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2525-9759 Before the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council that took place in the latter half of the twentieth century,1 the most solemn liturgies were cel- ebrated in the pope’s Rome, the beating heart of Christianity. This was because of the richness of the ceremonial formalities and the liturgical prerogatives to which the highest pastor and bishop of the Eternal City was entitled.2 The most ceremonial celebrations in the papal chapels were the solemn Masses that were celebrated by the Vicar of Christ on such occasions as canonizations or the pope’s own coronation. The Solemn Pontifical Mass was a celebration par excellence.3 The last two papal coronations took place in 1958 and 1963, respectively. Then, Popes John XXIII and Paul VI received the papal tiara. Because of the symbolic act of renouncing and giving up the tiara by Paul VI, their successors 1 Cf. A. Bugnini, The Reform of the Liturgy 1948–1975, Collegeville 1990, pp. 805–817 (chapter 52: Papal Chapel); P. Jounel, Au service de la liturgie papale, „Ephemeridies Liturgicae” 2005 no. 119, pp. 115–124; idem, Liturgie aux multiples visages. Mélanges, Città del Vaticano 1993 (chpter 19: Les célébrations liturgiques du Concile Vatican II et du synode diocésain and chapter 21: Des funérailles de Paul VI à l’inauguration du ministère pastoral du pape Jean-Paul II); P.