What is the “room of tears”, where the elected pope remains only with himself

Its official name does not appear in the protocols, but DIn centuries they call it the “tears room”. The reason is linked to a long tradition. It is a small side room in the cappella sistinato which you access a door to the left of the altar, just under the universal judgment.

A plaque dated 31 May 2013 recalls that “in this room, called” of the crying “starting from Gregorio XIV who here, on December 5, 1590, just elected pope, poured tears of emotionthe new pontiff, after accepting the election, wears his own clothes ».

It is a place of passage, of transformation. The furniture is Scarno: two chairs, a red sofa, a table, a hanger. But It is here that, after the conclave, the elected pope, successor of Pope Francis, will arrive accompanied by the master of ceremonies. In the tears room he is helped by the master of ceremonies to wear one of the three papal tunics, in small, medium and large sizes, prepared in advance. A gesture that represents the full intake of the mandate.

As he explains to Media Vatican Monsignor Marco Agostini, papal ceremonies, “The Pope there is aware of what has becomeof what is from now on. The change of the dress speaks of the profound change of its existence. In that place he learns that the office is bigger than the person ».

It is a moment that can move to tears: This is where the man called to the papal throne is placed, for the first time, in front of the greatness of the task. For this reason the room took this name: because it welcomes a man called to load the entire weight of the pontificate. “Perhaps it is from there that the definition of the room of tears also derives,” continues Agostini, “because it is the moment in which the Papae figure is aware of the person is much greater than the person who holds it and that, under it, the Pope will learn every day to die”.

Agostini adds that “to contemplate this vision, a supernatural look is needed, the gaze of faith is needed. The Pope himself must learn to read himself with the eyes of gracewith the eyes of faith ».

Source: Vanity Fair

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