[THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA]

Urbi et Orbi

The term Urbi et Orbi (which means "for the city and for the world")
signifies that a papal document is addressed not only to the City of Rome
but to the entire Catholic world. This phrase is applied especially to the
solemn blessing with plenary indulgence which, before the occupation of
Rome, the pope was accustomed to impart on certain occasions from the
balcony of the chief basilicas of the city. This blessing was given
annually at St. Peter's on Holy Thursday, Easter, and the feast of Sts.
Peter and Paul; at St. John Lateran on the Ascension; at St. Mary Major on
the Assumption. It was imparted also on extraordinary occas ions, as at St.
Peter's when the pope was crowned, at St. John's when he was enthroned, at
various times during the holy year, or jubilee, for the benefit of
pilgrims. The blessing Urbi et Orbi of Ascension Day was sometimes
postponed till Pentecost on account of the inclemency of the weather,
illness of the pope, etc. Innocent X in the jubilee of 1650 on the
Ephiphany, Pentecost, and All Saints, as well as later popes, including
Pope Pius IX, for special reasons, gave this solemn blessing from the
balcony of the Quirinal Palace.

ANDREW B. MEEHAN
Transcribed by Carol Kerstner

Taken from the New Advent Web Page (www.knight.org/advent).

This article is part of the Catholic Encyclopedia Project, an effort aimed at placing the  entire Catholic Encyclopedia 1913 edition on the World Wide Web. The coordinator is Kevin Knight,  editor of the New Advent Catholic Website. If you would like to contribute to this  worthwhile project, you can contact him by e-mail at ([email protected]). For  more information please download the file cathen.txt/.zip.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

  Provided courtesy of:

       Eternal Word Television Network
       PO Box 3610
       Manassas, VA 22110
       Voice: 703-791-2576
       Fax: 703-791-4250
       Data: 703-791-4336
       Web: http://www.ewtn.com
       Ftp: ftp.ewtn.com
       Telnet: ewtn.com
       Email address: [email protected]

  EWTN provides a Catholic online
  information and service system.

You are viewing proxied material from gopher.ratthing.com. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.