The topic of this third post of the "Cardinali" thread is the acme, the most solemn moment of the creation of new Princes of the Church: the Public Consistory.
I thought I would share this topic into two posts.
In this first post the procession is described, with some interesting pictures of the dignitaries who take part into it.
On the day chosen for the solemn ceremony, the new Cardinals gather in a chapel of the Vatican Basilica and they, one by one, pledge the oath of fidelity in the presence of the Cardinal chief of their order (Bishops, Priests, Deacons) and of the Camerlengo of the Sacred College.
The Papal procession is thus composed:
The Procurators of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces
The Preacher Apostolic wearing his robe of Capuchin Friar
The Confessor of the Papal Household in his robes of Servite Friar
The Procurators of the Religious Orders wearing the robe proper to each Order
The Bussolanti
The Honorary Chaplains
The Consistorial Advocates
(Below: two Consistorial Advocates wearing their ceremonial vestments. They are laymen, but wear the ecclesiastical robe and cope)
The Promoter and the Deputy Promoter of the Faith
The Honorary and Privy Chamberlains
The Prelates of the Apostolic Segnatura
The Clerks of the Reverend Apostolic Chamber
(Below: a clerk of the Apostolic Chamber bearing the Stocco d'onore and Berrettone, on Christmas Night)
The Master of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces wearing his robe of Dominican Friar
The Prelates Auditores of the Sacred Rota bearing the Papal Cross
The Master Porter de virga rubea
The Sacred College of the Cardinals, wearing the cappa magna.
The Prince Assistant to the Throne
(Below: His Excellency don Marcantonio Colonna, prince Assistant to the Papal Throne in 1920's)
The two Cardinal-deacons assistant to the Throne
The Prefect and the Vice-prefect of the Papal Ceremonies
The Sovrintendente Generale of the Papal Posts
The Cavallerizzo Maggiore of His Holiness
The Foriere Maggiore of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces
(Below: Three Secret Chamberlains di cappa e spada partecipanti: Marquis Giulio Sacchetti, Foriere Maggiore of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces, H.E. Prince Leone Massimo,Sovrintendente Generale of the Papal Posts, and Marquis Giacomo Serlupi Crescenzi, Cavallerizzo Maggiore of His Holiness)
Then, comes the Holy Father in his majesty carried on the gestatorial chair by his sediarii
For the Public Consistory the Sovereigh Pontiff wears all liturgical vestments proper to his highest dignity with the red mantum and golden mitre and is carried down from the Apostolic Palace to the Basilica on the sedia gestatoria.
Around him, march the Commanders of the Papal Armed Forces, the mazzieri, and the Swiss Guards bearing the great swords with the coats of arms of their Cantons.
There follow the Privy Chamberlains participantes for the falda
The Dean of the Auditors of the Sacred Rota in charge of the Papal Mitre
the Adjutant Chamberlain of His Holiness
The Auditor-General of the Reverend Apostolic Chamber
The Bishops and Archbishops Assistant at the Pontifical Throne wearing, by exclusive privilege, silk robes.
The Master of the Chamber
The College of the Prothonotary Apostolic participantes, supranumerarii, and ad instar
The Abbots and Superior Generals of the Religious Orders.
Those Bishops and Archbishops who haven't the dignity of Assistant to the Throne don't take part into the procession, but wait at their proper place.
