Sedia gestatoria

The Sedia gestatoria (Latin, literally " seat, which serves to support " ) is a portable chair for the Pope. The Sedia consists of an ornate throne, which is mounted on a platform, the so-called suppedaneum. On the sides two rods are attached by means of which the throne of twelve men, the Palafrenieri or Sediari pontifici, is worn. On the sides of the Flabelli were subjects of white feathers worn.

Probably Pius II was the first Pope who gave the use of the Sedia a ceremonial appearances. In his Commentaries, he points to his gout; 1459 when moving into Florence it came to the first dispute, which arose from the fact that Pius II did not, as usual until then, moved on a white horse into the city. In 1460 he settled in Rome when moving borne by Roman nobles of the sixth milestone from the Porta del Popolo. The appearance of a triumphal procession was unmistakable here.

In the period following the Sedia was increasingly becoming an integral part of the Papal ceremonial. Various forms of Sedia, depending on the occasion were used. At ordinary occasions a minor Sedes was used, in which the seat was in the amount of the carrier. It was worn by only eight Sediari.

The actual Sedia gestatoria in conjunction with the suppedaneum found in the ceremonial of the Pope collection, the papal Mass and solemn occasions use. In former times it was customary to wear a new bishop at his inauguration on a Sedia in his church.

John XXIII. was worn at the opening of the Second Vatican Council on the Sedia in St. Peter's Basilica for the opening show. This Sedia was Leo XIII. made and all his successors to John Paul I used it. Pope John Paul I wanted the Sedia actually no longer use, because he, like the tiara, as felt to arise in a traditional ceremony. However, since he was told that people would otherwise not see him, he agreed to their use yet. After John Paul I had the Sedia used only in some general audiences and taking possession of the Lateran Basilica, leaning his successor John Paul II their use due to their triumphalistic appearance from completely. Even during his serious illness, he returned to only a wheeled throne. Benedict XVI also. did not use the Sedia. Thus, the papal support are now found only then to use when they convert the papal body into Peter 's Basilica.

Swell

• Claudia Märtl: Pope Pius II (1458-1464) in the chapel of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence. A contribution to iconography and ritual of the Popes in the Renaissance ( PDF)