Vicarius Salvatoris Nostri Jesu Christi

This is the last post on the symbolism of papal inauguration and coronation as we are taught by the Church in the extraordinary Liturgical ceremonies.


Dear Catholics, love your Church. Love and understand Her all traditions. With these traditions She teaches us to love Our Blessed Lord and how to get to heaven. But you must put some efforts to learn and understand these traditions’ meanings and symbolism.

Sic transit gloria mundi
Oratio Super Electum Pontificem
Pallium - Plenitude of the Pontifical Office
Papal Coronation
Symbolism of Papal Coronation and Tiara
Pater Principum et Regum
Rector Orbis

Pope Pius X Coronation Vestments

From the Papal Coronation rite:

Accipe tiaram tribus coronis ornatam, et scias te esse Patrem Principum et Regum, Rectorem Orbis, in terra Vicarium Salvatoris Nostri Jesu Christi, cui est honor et gloria in sæcula sæculorum.

Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns and know that thou art Father of Princes and Kings, Ruler of the World, Vicar of Our Savior Jesus Christ in earth, to whom is honor and glory in the ages of ages.

The Pope is the Vicar of our Lord on Earth.

Source Catholic Encyclopedia:

A title of the pope implying his supreme and universal primacy, both of honour and of jurisdiction, over the Church of Christ. It is founded on the words of the Divine Shepherd to St. Peter: "Feed my lambs. . . . Feed my sheep" (John 21:16-17), by which He constituted the Prince of the Apostles guardian of His entire flock in His own place, thus making him His Vicar and fulfilling the promise made in Matthew 16:18-19.

In the course of the ages other vicarial designations have been used for the pope, as Vicar of St. Peter and even Vicar of the Apostolic See (Pope Gelasius, I, Ep. vi), but the title Vicar of Christ is more expressive of his supreme headship of the Church on earth, which he bears in virtue of the commission of Christ and with vicarial power derived from Him. Thus, Innocent III appeals for his power to remove bishops to the fact that he is Vicar of Christ (cap. "Inter corporalia", 2, "De trans. ep."). He also declares that Christ has given such power only to His Vicar Peter and his successors (cap. "Quanto", 3, ibid.), and states that it is the Roman Pontiff who is "the successor of Peter and the Vicar of Jesus Christ" (cap. "Licet", 4, ibid.). The title Vicar of God used for the pope by Nicholas III (c. "Fundamenta ejus", 17, "De elect.", in 6) is employed as an equivalent for Vicar of Christ.