Papal Mass - Modern Day

Modern Day

The full ceremonial detailed above has not been used since early in the pontificate of Pope Paul VI. In fact, many of the offices of the Papal Court required for the celebration of the Papal Mass were abolished by Paul VI.

Paul VI ceased using the papal tiara soon after his coronation. He discontinued the use of many traditional features of papal dress, including the papal slippers and pontifical gloves. He did however carry a distinctive form of papal cross, which was used throughout the pontificate of John Paul II, silver in colour. However, Pope Benedict XVI now carries a golden cross with an image of the Lamb of God in the center, but without a figure of Christ crucified.

There were occasions when Pope John Paul II would wear the fanon while celebrating Mass. The custom of having the Gospel chanted in Greek by a Greek Catholic deacon remains on certain occasions.

The vernacular language of the place has been more used in recent decades since the Second Vatican Council in the celebration of Papal Masses, especially when the pope is abroad. The Latin language is used for the majority of Papal Masses celebrated within the Vatican City. However, in the last several years of the current pontificate of Benedict XVI, the Latin language is always used for the Eucharistic Prayer when the Pope celebrates Mass abroad.

Whereas in the older papal Mass, only the pope, the deacon, and the subdeacon would receive Holy Communion, in modern Papal Masses, many communicants receive, the pope himself administering Communion to some of them.

In recent decades, it has been common for the Pope to celebrate Masses in stadiums or sports arenas abroad, so as to accommodate a larger number of pilgrims. It is the current practice to also celebrate some Masses in Saint Peters Square. However, much more often than not, Papal Masses in the Vatican City take place within Saint Peters Basilica. These Masses point out the universality of the Roman Catholic faith, with participants from many lands. It is the current practice for each invocation of the Universal Prayer to be in a different language, with the response in Latin. The Midnight Mass of Christmas Eve normally takes place inside St. Peter's Basilica and is telecast throughout the world.

After the end of the Second Vatican Council, several of the particular ceremonies and pieces of clothing used in Papal Masses were gradually discontinued. In recent years, since the ascension of Pope Benedict XVI, several of these have been revived. One such example is the playing of the Himno Pontifico on brass instruments from the loggia of the interior of Saint Peter's Basilica to announce the arrival of the Pope, followed by the chanting of Tu Es Petrus by the Sistine Chapel Choir, practices not seen for many years.