Wednesday, January 07, 2009

The Tronetto of Pius IX

Fotografia Felici have now released their images of yesterday's papal Mass for the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. I especially liked these two of the Canon of the Mass:

Epiphania2009-32

Epiphania2009-33

Here are some images which allow us a better look at the throne, which is also called the Tronetto, since it used to be set up permanently in the Sala del Tronetto, the room before the Pope's Library in the Apostolic Palace where he receives Heads of State.

Epiphania2009-35

Epiphania2009-36

Epiphania2009-34

VATICAN-POPE-EPIPHANY

VATICAN-POPE-MASS-EPIPHANY



As I mentioned, this throne, on which the handing over of the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to St. Peter is depicted, was used by the popes until John Paul I for formal portraits.

Pius XI:

Photobucket

Pius XII:

tronoconsegnachiavipio12

Bl. John XXIII:

tronoconsegnachiavigiovanni23

Paul VI:

tronoconsegnachiavipaoloviev1

John Paul I:

tronoconsegnachiavigiovannipaolo1


And lastly, this is how the throne looked until recently, when it was in the Lateran museum, until Pope Benedict (even before the advent of Guido Marini) ordered it to be restored:

tronoconsegnachiavimuseolaterano+

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