VATICAN - At his general Audience the Pope explains the significance of the Pallium: “it expresses the fundamental principle of communion, it recalls that this communion is organic and hierarchical, it shows that the Church, to be one, needs the special service of the Church of Rome and its Bishop, the head of the College of Bishops, lastly it emphasises the Catholicity of the Church”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - During the audience this morning 30 June in St Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II explained to those present the significance of the Pallium which he imposed on the shoulders of the new Metropolitan Archbishops during a solemn concelebration of Mass yesterday June 29 the Feast of the Patron Saints of Rome Peter and Paul. After recalling that Peter and Paul are “venerated especially here in Rome where both sealed their admirable witness of love for the Lord with their blood ”, the Pope mentioned that the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch from Constantinople, His Holiness Bartholomew I took part in the Mass. Greeting the new archbishops present at the general the Audience, the Pope said: “Your welcome presence gives me the opportunity to reflect on the significance of the ancient custom of the imposition of the Pallium.”
“Since the 9th century archbishops appointed to Metropolitan Sees, receive from the Pope a special liturgical insignia the Pallium as a sign of communion with the Bishop of Rome... Still today the sign of the Pallium has a singular eloquence. It expresses the fundamental principle of communion which shapes ecclesial life in its different aspects; it recalls that this communion is organic and hierarchical, it shows that the Church, to be one, needs the special service of the Church of Rome and its Bishop, the head of the College of Bishops. The other complementary aspect highlighted by the Pallium is the Catholicity of the Church. The Church is sent in fact by Christ to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to serve the whole of humanity.”
Lastly the Pope urged all those who had travelled to Rome to be with their Archbishops on this special occasion “to be united with them and to pray for the pastoral mission to which they are called. To all of them Christ says what he once said to Peter: Duc in altum! Christ urges us to put out into the deep and to sail with confidence on the sea of life, trusting in the constant support of Mary, Mother of God and in the intercession of the Apostles Peter and Paul who with their blood fecundated the beginnings of the Church.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 30/6/2004 - Righe 24; Parole 348)