VATICAN CITY, JAN. 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).- In keeping with a tradition for today's feast of St. Agnes, Benedict XVI blessed two live lambs whose wool will be used to weave palliums.
The Pope blessed the lambs this morning in the Apostolic Palace. The palliums woven from the lambs' wool will be bestowed on new metropolitan archbishops on June 29, solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.
The pallium is a white band embroidered with six black crosses and worn over the shoulders. It has two hanging pieces, front and back. Worn by the Pope and by metropolitan archbishops, the pallium symbolizes authority and expresses the special bond between the bishops and the Roman Pontiff.
