History of Papal Inaugurations

[Lucky7]

Does anyone know the history of papal inaugurations? My husband seems to think that diplomats/dignitaries did not attend papal inaugurations in the distant past (translation for him: pre-V2) and I want to say that he is mistaken.

I have been googling like crazy (as well as searching on the forums) and can’t seem to find anything except that Benedict changed the requirements for their attire.

Anyone know? If so, could you post a link?

THanks!

 

[YoungTradCath]

I don’t know, but it seems quite likely that at least friendlies and Catholic monarchs would attend, or at least send delegations to, Coronations.

 

[JohnTomHoc]

Does anyone know the history of papal inaugurations? My husband seems to think that diplomats/dignitaries did not attend papal inaugurations in the distant past (translation for him: pre-V2) and I want to say that he is mistaken.

I have been googling like crazy (as well as searching on the forums) and can’t seem to find anything except that Benedict changed the requirements for their attire.

Anyone know? If so, could you post a link?

THanks!

Until Paul VI, the papal inauguration was a papal coronation; Paul VI retired the papal tiara, and since they have simply been referred to as inaugurations.
I think it was in his essay on Pius XII (in *Collected Essays* that Graham Greene described the words of a German envoy to the coronation of Pius XII, to the effect of, "All this is quite splendid -- too bad it will be the last." (The essay incidentally, published 13 years before the campaign against Pius XII began with "The Deputy", is a good antidote to all the anti-Pietine trash that circulates now.)