Coronation of Pope Paul VI

The centuries-old practice of inaugurating a papacy with a papal coronation lapsed thereafter as his successors, beginning with John Paul I, adopted simpler ceremonies that did not include the imposition of a tiara.

Seats for the diplomatic corps were located to the Pope's right and places were reserved for his relatives, European royalty, Roman nobility, visiting dignitaries and journalists to his left.

Then came a variety of papal officials of higher rank in "the costumes of 16-century Spanish grandees", and the prefect of pontifical ceremonies, Archbishop Enrico Dante.

Finally eight men carried in the Pope on his portable throne, the sedia gestatoria, canopied in cream-colored silk and flanked by two flabelli (long-handled, semicircular ostrich-feather fans that "lent an exotic touch to the scene"), as well as by sword-bearing Swiss Guards, by a dozen mace bearers, by more members of the papal household and by senior officers of the Vatican's military forces.

The Pope wore a gold mitre and white gloves, and he was covered in "a large richly-embroidered cape that enveloped him from neck to feet".

[2] Finally Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani held the papal tiara high above the Pope's head so the crowd could see it sparkle in the brilliant lighting and then placed it on the Pope's head, saying in Latin: "Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns and know that thou art the Father of Princes and Ruler of Kings, the Vicar on Earth of Our Savior Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory through the ages".

[10] On 13 November 1964, at the conclusion of a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica with two thousand bishops in attendance, he stood up from his throne, descended a few steps, removed his tiara and placed it on the altar.

Reports said he meant it as a donation to the poor, that he was moved by discussions during the Council of world poverty and the need for the Church to replace traditional finery.

[12] In honor of the coronation, the Spanish government granted broad clemencies to incarcerated criminals in Spain; reductions of prison terms ranged from one-half to one-sixth.