An Observation of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen about the Ceremonies of Popes to Mark Their Elections

St. Peter’s Basilica, Interior

Here is an interesting observation by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in his book, Those Mysterious Priests, about the actual placement of the ceremonies of popes to mark their elections, beginning with Pope Benedict XV:

“To appreciate the background of the Church’s attitude to the world, recall that in the last hundred years two opposite movements have been taking place. First, the Church went into the world; second, the world came into the”

 “First, the Church has gone into the world. Recall in your mind’s eye, St. Peter’s. At the far end of the Basilica is the throne. That is where Benedict XV was crowned—about as far from the front door as he could get. Pius XI moved forward one hundred feet and was crowned under the great dome at the main altar. Pius XII walked down the nave, up the stairs on the wall, and into the balcony. He literally stepped into the world, for he was outside St. Peter’s. John XXIII walked down the nave, up the steps, out onto the balcony, stretched out those great arms of his like Bernini’s columns, and begged the whole world to come to himself. Paul VI walked down the middle aisle of St. Peter’s, out the front door and was”Ex“crowned in the piazza—in the world.

As the Church was going into the world, the world was coming into the Church. The Council of Trent, over four hundred years ago, was a Mediterranean Council, it was Latin, it was European. Vatican Council I was equally Mediterranean. There was not one single Bishop at Vatican Council I in 1870 from Asia or Africa. In Vatican Council II, 60 per cent of the bishops were from Africa, Asia, North and South America. In addition, there were invited to the Council the Orthodox, Protestants and other observers from everywhere in the world. For the first time in the history of the Church, the dust of the world mingled with the dust of Peter. 

Excerpt From: Fulton J. Sheen. “Those Mysterious Priests.”