Papal altar

Papal altar in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

A papal altar is an altar in certain churches at which only the Pope , or in exceptional cases bishops with papal approval, may celebrate Holy Mass .

Papal altar of the Roman Basilicae maiores

The papal altar is a special feature of the four Roman Basilicae maiores ( Lateran Basilica , Vatican Basilica (St. Peter) , St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major ) and the venerable Basilica minor of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls , the five Roman papal basilicas .

The strict regulation, which stems from the patriarchal basilicas of early Christianity , was adopted by Pope Paul VI. after the 2nd Vatican, relativized in order to meet the increased number of visitors and the changed habits of the pilgrims - since then, other selected priests have in principle been allowed to celebrate Mass (unless the Holy Father himself wants to celebrate on this day).

Papal altar in St. Peter's Basilica

There is a papal altar in St. Peter's Basilica, for example . It is located in the center of the basilica, under a 28.50 m high, bronze canopy , which was created under the direction of Gian Lorenzo Bernini . The canopy was erected between 1624 and 1633 to reduce the space between the actual altar and the dome of the church, designed by Michelangelo . It is said to consist of the bronze ornaments that Pope Urban VIII had removed from the dome of the Pantheon . The weight of the four twisted columns alone is seven tons ; this makes the canopy the largest bronze work of art in the world. The niches of the four huge pillars, which stand around the altar and support the dome, house statues of St. Helena , Veronica , Longinus and the apostle Andrew . Under the papal altar is the Confessio , Peter's tomb .

Individual evidence

↑ Paul VI .: Peculiare ius , Apostolic Letter motu proprio of February 8, 1966 ( original text la , vatican.va; German translation see Heinrich Rennings, Martin Klöckener (ed.): Documents for the Renewal of the Liturgy , Volume 1, 2nd ed . Verlag Saint-Paul 1983, p. 317 ff, ISBN 978-376669266-5 ; limited preview in the Google book search)

[Peculiare_ius-1] Paul VI .: Peculiare ius , Apostolic Letter motu proprio of February 8, 1966 ( original text la , vatican.va; German translation see Heinrich Rennings, Martin Klöckener (ed.): Documents for the Renewal of the Liturgy , Volume 1, 2nd ed . Verlag Saint-Paul 1983, p. 317 ff, ISBN 978-376669266-5 ; limited preview in the Google book search)