(June 23,2010) Indian Archbishop Francis Kallarakal of Verapoly, Kerala State, is
among the 38 metropolitan archbishops, who will receive the pallium from Pope Benedict
XVI on Tuesday, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. The rest include 3 from Asia,
8 from Africa, 14 from Europe and 12 from the Americas. Vatican’s Press Office has
announced that the Mass in which, the prelates will receive the honour will take
place on June 29 in St.Peter’s Basilica. The pallium is a white woollen band
embroidered with six black crosses. It is worn around the shoulders over liturgical
vestments, to evoke the image of the Good Shepherd carrying a sheep back to the fold.
Pope Benedict wears one, and annually on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, he places
a pallium around the shoulders of prelates, who in the past year have been named to
head archdioceses. The pallium, which is made from the wool of new-born lambs
blessed by the Pope each year on the feast of St. Agnes, symbolizes authority, and
expresses the special bond between the bishops and the Roman Pontiff.