Pallium

Pallium, the name given in the Roman Catholic Church to one of the ecclesiastical ornaments worn by the pope, by patriarchs, and by archbishops. It is worn by the pope at all times, as a symbol of his reputed universal and abiding jurisdiction. By archbishops it cannot be worn until it has been solemnly asked for and granted by the pope, and even then only during the solemn service of the great church festivals, and on occasions of the ordination of bishops or of priests, and other similar acts of his episcopal office. The pallium is a narrow annular band of white woollen web, about 3 inches wide, upon which black crosses are embroidered, which encircles the neck of the archbishop, and from which two narrow bands of the same material depend, one falling over the breast, the other over the back of the wearer. It is made wholly or in part from the wool of two lambs, which are blessed annually on the festival of St Agnes.