Urbi et Orbi Latin Papal Blessing

Now that the new Pontiff is ‘making Latin great again’, it seems like an opportune moment to look at the Benedictio Coram Populo, which is the papal blessing commonly known as the Urbi et Orbi blessing. Coram is an adverb meaning ‘in person’ or ‘face-to-face,’ thus Benedictio Coram Populo is a ‘public blessing for the people.’

Urbi et Orbi is usually translated as ‘to the city and to the world’, but sometimes as ‘for the city and for the world’ – the ‘city’ being Rome. As urbi and orbi both take the dative case, either version is acceptable.

A plenary indulgence is attached to this blessing and in the past, popes would impart the blessing from the balconies of basilicas around Rome. At St. Peter’s, the blessing was given every year on Holy Thursday, Easter Sunday and the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, as well as by a new pope after he was elected. At St. Mary Major, it was imparted on the feast of the Assumption. At St. John Lateran, it was imparted on the feast of the Ascension as well as when a new Pope was enthroned and also during Jubilee years.

These days, it is usually limited to solemn occasions such as Easter Sunday, Christmas Day or after a new Pope is elected. Urbi et Orbi may also refer to a papal document that is addressed not only to the City of Rome but to the entire Catholic world.

The following text of the blessing was taken from an article at the Liturgical Arts Journal and you can find a video here with an English translation in real-time as the Pope speaks. {See here for more Latin prayers and go here to learn about Ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation.}

Benedictio Coram Populo

Sancti Apostoli Petrus et Paulus de quorum potestate et auctoritate confidimus, ipsi intercedant pro vobis ad Dominum. R/. Amen.

Precibus et meritis beatae Mariae semper Virginis, beati Michaelis Archangeli, beati Ioannis Baptistate et sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, et omnium Sanctorum:

Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus et dimissis omnibus peccatis vestris, perducat vos Iesus Christus ad vitam aeternam. R/. Amen.

Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem omnium peccatorum vestrorum, spatium verae et fructuosae poenitentiae, cor semper poenitens, et emendationem vitae, gratiam et consolationem Sancti Spiritus et finalem perseverantiam in bonis operibus tribuat vobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus. R/. Amen.

Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Pa+tris, et Fi+lii, et Spiritus + Sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper. R/. Amen.

English Translation of the Blessing

May the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, in whose power and authority we trust, intercede for you with the Lord. ℟: Amen.

Through the prayers and merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist and the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and of all the Saints: may Almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and may Jesus Christ bring you to everlasting life. ℟: Amen.

May the Almighty and most merciful God grant you forgiveness, absolution and remission of all your sins, time for a true and worthy penance, an ever-penitent heart, and true amendment of life, the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit and final perseverance in good works. ℟: Amen.

And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost come down upon you and remain with you always. ℟: Amen.

Video of translation in real-time

IMAGE SOURCE: Edgar Beltrán / The Pillar, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons