Archbishop Udumala Bala receives pallium from Pope Leo XIV
Visakhapatnam/Vatican City: In a solemn liturgical ceremony held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV conferred the pallium on archbishop Udumala Bala of
Visakhapatnam
, symbolizing his authority and unity with the Holy See as the Metropolitan Archbishop.
The Holy Eucharist marking the conferral took place on Sunday, June 29, at 9:30 am Rome time, coinciding with the feast of saint Peter and saint Paul — a traditional occasion for bestowing the pallium on newly appointed metropolitan archbishops.
Archbishop Bala, in a message stated: "The Holy Eucharist of the conferral of the pallium on me by Pope Leo XIV took place at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican. I offered prayers as I received this symbol of communion with the holy father and my pastoral mission as metropolitan archbishop of Visakhapatnam."
The pallium — a narrow band of white wool with six embroidered crosses — is worn over the shoulders and signifies both the archbishop's role as a shepherd within his province and his connection with the papacy. It is traditionally conferred only by the pope.
Archbishop Bala, who leads the ecclesiastical province of Visakhapatnam, had assumed his role earlier this year. The province includes several suffragan dioceses across Andhra Pradesh.
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by Taboola
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The ceremony was attended by other metropolitan archbishops from around the world, with Pope Leo XIV presiding over the liturgy. The conferral of the pallium serves as both a symbol of pastoral responsibility and a visible expression of the archbishop's fidelity to the mission of the universal church.
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