Urbi et Orbi denotes a papal address and apostolic blessing given by the pope on certain solemn occasions.
The term Urbi et Orbi evolved from the consciousness of the ancient Roman Empire. The invocation is expressed by the pope in his capacity as both the bishop of Rome (urbs = city; urbi the corresponding dative form; compare: urban) and the head of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world (orbis = earth; orbi the corresponding dative form; compare: orbit).[1]
The formula is found more frequently in the language of the Church, as in the inscription at the Lateran Basilica, which is: Sacrosancta Lateranensis ecclesia omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput ("Most Holy Lateran Church, of all the churches in the city and the world, the mother and head".[2]
In the 4th century, Pope Damasus I wrote in a letter to the bishops of Illyricum: Unde iustum est, omnes in Universo Romanorum Orbe Doctores legis, ea, quae legis sunt, sapere, et non fidem doctrinis variis maculare ("Wherefore it is just that all the teachers of the law in the universe of the Roman world should be wise in the things of the law, and not to tarnish the faith with various doctrines").[3]
The ritual of the papal blessing Urbi et Orbi developed in the 13th century during the reign of Pope Gregory X, who consulted Niccolò and Maffeo Polo before his election.[4] [5]
The Urbi et Orbi address and blessing is the most solemn form of blessing in the Catholic Church, and is reserved for the most solemn occasions. These occasions include Easter, Christmas, and the proclamation of a newly elected pope concluding a conclave.[6]
Urbi et orbi blessings are usually given from the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, at noontime, and are broadcast worldwide through the European Broadcasting Union and other linkups. The address concludes with greetings in many languages in relation to the feast celebrated.
The Roman Catholic Church grants a plenary indulgence by the willful grace and intent of the pope, on the usual conditions, to those who "devoutly receive" the blessing that the pope imparts Urbi et Orbi.
For any ordinary plenary indulgence, the conditions are:
Gaining a plenary indulgence requires that a baptized Roman Catholic must also exclude any attachment to sin, even venial sin.[7]
Since 1985, this indulgence is granted not only to the people in Saint Peter's Square, but also to those who though unable to be physically present, "piously follow" it by radio or television.[8] [9]
This is now extended to all who receive the papal blessing over the Internet ("the new communications medium"), since the blessing is preceded by an announcement by a cardinal (usually the cardinal protodeacon): "His Holiness Pope N. grants a plenary indulgence in the form laid down by the Church to all the faithful present and to those who receive his blessing by radio, television and the new communications media. Let us ask Almighty God to grant the Pope many years as leader of the Church and peace and unity to the Church throughout the world."[10]
On 27 March 2020, Pope Francis imparted an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing in order to pray for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] He stood in a deserted Saint Peter's Square.[12] For this blessing, the Apostolic Penitentiary loosened the requirements to receive the Eucharist and go to confession, due to the impossibility for people affected by lockdowns and suspension of liturgies.[13] The Salus Populi Romani image and a crucifix from the church of San Marcello al Corso – both seen as miraculous – were brought to the square for the occasion. The Pope performed the blessing as a Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.[14] [15]
From Pope Paul VI to Pope Benedict XVI, after delivering their Urbi et Orbi message, the pope would greet the different nations in their native languages. The pope typically began by saying: "To those who listen to me, I address a cordial greeting in the different language expressions." Pope Francis has since stopped this practice.
| Language | Easter(transcription)[16] | Christmas(transcription)[17] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian | Buona Pasqua a voi, uomini e donne di Roma e d’Italia! | Buon Natale agli abitanti di Roma e dell’intera Italia! | ||
| French | Le Christ est ressuscité. Sainte fête de Pâques ! Que pour vous ce mystère soit source de bonheur et de paix profonde. | Heureuse et sainte fête de Noël ! Que le Christ Sauveur vous garde dans l’espérance et qu’il vous fasse le don de la paix profonde | ||
| English | May the grace and joy of the Risen Christ be with you all. | May the birth of the Prince of Peace remind the world where its true happiness lies; and may your hearts be filled with hope and joy, for the Saviour has been born for us. | ||
| German | Euch allen ein gesegnetes und frohes Osterfest! Der Friede und die Freude des auferstandenen Herrn sei mit Euch. | Die Geburt Jesu Christi, des Erlösers der Menschen, erfülle Euer Leben mit tiefer Freude und reicher Gnade; sein Friede möge in Euren Herzen wohnen. Gesegnete und frohe Weihnachten! | ||
| Spanish | Os deseo a todos una buena y feliz fiesta de Pascua, con la paz y la alegría, la esperanza y el amor de Jesucristo Resucitado. | ¡Feliz Navidad! Que la Paz de Cristo reine en vuestros corazones, en las familias y en todos los pueblos. | ||
| Portuguese | Uma Páscoa feliz com Cristo Ressuscitado. | Feliz Natal para todos! O nascimento do Menino Jesus ilumine de alegria e paz vossos lares e Nações | ||
| Dutch | Zalig Pasen!Ik wil mijn hartelijke dank tot uitdrukking brengen voor de fraaie bloemen uit Nederland voor de Paasmis op het Sint Pietersplein. | Zalig en gelukkig Kerstmis. | ||
| Luxembourgian | Frou a geseent Oushteren. | Schéin Chreschtdag. | ||
| Greek | Χριστός άνέστη(Christós ánésti̱) | Καλά Χριστούγεννα(Kalá Christoúgenna) | ||
| Albanian | Për shumë wjet Pashkët. | Per shum vjet Krishtlindjen. | ||
| Romanian | Cristos a ínviat. | Sărbători Fericite de Crăciun si Anul Nou. | ||
| Hungarian | Krisztus feltámadott. Alleluja. | Áldott Karácsonyt. | ||
| Polish | Chrystus zmartwychwstał. | Błogosławionych świąt Bożego Narodzenia. | ||
| Sorbian | Chrystus z mortwych stanył. | Zohnowane hody! A zbožowne Nowe lěto | ||
| Czech | Kristus vstal z mrtvých. | Narodil se vám Spasitel. Radujte se! | ||
| Slovak | Radostné veľkonočné sviatky. | Milostiplné a radostné Vianočné Sviatky. | ||
| Slovene | Blagoslovljene velikonočne praznike. | Božje Dete, naj vam podeli svoj blagoslov. | ||
| Croatian | Sretan Uskrs! | Sretan Božić, Isusovo Porođenje! | ||
| Serbian | Христос васкрсе!(Hristos vaskrse | ) | Среħан Божиħ – Христос се роди!(Srećan Božić – Hristos se rodi | ) |
| Macedonian | Христос Воскресна.(Hristos Voskresna.) | Нека ви е честит Божиќ и Нова Година(Neka vi e čestit Božiḱ i Nova Godina) | ||
| Bulgarian | Христос възкресе (Khristos vŭzkrese) | Честито Рождество Христово(Chestito Rozhdestvo Khristovo) | ||
| Russian | Христос Воскресе.(Hristos Voskrese.) | Сердечно поздравляю всех с Праздником Рождества Христова(Serdechno pozdravlyayu vsekh s Prazdnikom Rozhdestva Khristova) | ||
| Byelorussian | Christos uvaskrós. | Viasiòłych kalàdnych Sviàtaû! | ||
| Ukrainian | Христос Воскрес! (Khrystos Voskres | ) | Веселих Свят з Різдвом Христовим і Новим Роком! (Veselykh Svyat z Rizdvom Khrystovym i Novym Rokom | ) |
| Mongolian | ХРИСТИЙН ДАХИН АМИЛАЛЫН БАЯРЫН МЗНД ХУРГЗЕ! Khristiin Dakhin Amilalyn Bayaryn Mendkhurgeye | Hristijn Tersen Edrijn mendhurgie | ||
| Kazakh | Иса тірілпті (Ïsa tirilpti) | Родecтвo мepeкeci ктты болсын!(Rodectvo mepekeci kttı bolsın | ) | |
| Lithuanian | Linksmų Šventų Velykų. | Linksmų Šventų Kalėdų. | ||
| Latvian | Priecīgas lieldienas. | Priecīgus Ziemsvētkus! | ||
| Estonian | Kristus on surnuist üles tõusnud. | Häid jõulupühi. | ||
| Finnish | Siunattua pääsiäistä. | Hyvää joulua. | ||
| Swedish | Glad påsk. | God jul, gott nytt år. | ||
| Icelandic | Gleðilega Páska. | Gleðileg jól! | ||
| Irish | Beannacht na Cásca dhaoibh go léir. | Nollaig shona dhaoibh go léir. | ||
| Romani | Lachi Patrači. | Baxtalò Krečùno! Thaj Nevo berš | ||
| Maltese | L-Għid it-tajjeb. | Il-Milied it-tajjeb lill-poplu kollu ta' Malta u Għawdex. | ||
| Georgian | K’riste Aghsdga | Gilotsavt Krist’es Shobas | ||
| Turkish | Paskalya bayramini kutlarim. | Noel bayramı kutlu olsun. | ||
| Arabic | El Messieh kahm! Hakken kahm | Miládon-mazídon | ||
| Ethiopian-Eritrean | Burúk Fasika | Burúk ledét | ||
| Hebrew | Brachot le Chag HaPesach. | Hamashiach Nolad. Chag Molad Mevorach. | ||
| Aramaic | Qmlēh maran Shwubuḥaʾ lshemēh | Hwylēh maran Shwubuḥaʾ lshemēh | ||
| Armenian | Kuhreestos harryav ee merrelotz | Sznorawórsz surp dz'nunt | ||
| Swahili | Heri na baraka zangu kwa sikukuu ja Pasaka kwenu wote. | Heri kwa noeli na baraka nyingi kwa mwaka mpya. | ||
| Kirundi and Kinyarwanda | Pasika Nziza, mwese. | Gumya umutima mu mahoro! Noeli nziza | ||
| Malagasy | Arahaba Tratry Ny Paka. | Arahaba tratrin'i Noely. | ||
| Hindi | पास्का की शुभकामनाएं (Paaska kee shubhakaamanaen) | ख्रिस्त के जन्म उत्सव की शुभकामनाएं (Khrist ke janm utsav kee shubhakaamanaen) | ||
| Tamil | Kiṟistu uyirppu nāḷil uṅkaḷ ellōrukkum eṉ vāḻttukkaḷ! | கிறிஸ்து பிறந்த தின வாழ்த்துக்கள் (Kiṟistu piṟanta tiṉa vāḻttukkaḷ) | ||
| Malayalam | ഉയിര്പ്പു തിരുനാളില് എല്ലാവർക്കും ഹൃദയുംഗമായ മുംഗളങ്ങള്(Uyirppu thirunaalil ellaavarkkum hrudayamgamaaya mangalangal) | തിരുപിറവിയുടെ ആശുംസകള് നനരുന്നു (Thiruppiraviyute aashamsakal nerunnu) | ||
| Bengalese | ||||
| Burmese | ||||
| Urdu (Pakistan) | Eid e Qayamat al Masih mubarak ho | Eid e Wiladat al Masih mubarak ho | ||
| Chinese | 復活節快樂 / 复活节快乐 (Fùhuójié kuàilè) | 聖誕節快樂 / 圣诞节快乐 (Shèngdànjié kuàilè) | ||
| Japanese | ご復活おめでとうございます (Go fukkatsu omedetō gozaimasu) | クリスマスと新年おめでとうございます。 (Kurisumasu-to shínnen omédetō gozáimasu) | ||
| Korean | 부활을 축하합니다 (buhwal-eul chughahabnida) | 기쁜 성탄에 한국의 평화를 비노라 (gippeun seongtan-e hangug-ui pyeonghwaleul binola) | ||
| Vietnamese | Mừng lễ Phục sinh. | Chúc mừng Giáng sinh. | ||
| Sinhalese | Śrī laṁkāvāsī obaṭa halelūyā! | Natthal Saamaya Oba Semata Labewaa! | ||
| Thai | สุขสันต์วันปัสกาแด่ชาวไทยทุก ๆ ท่าน!(S̄uk̄h s̄ạnt̒ wạn pạs̄kā dæ̀ chāw thịy thuk thuk th̀ān) | สุขสันต์วันคริสตสมภพ แด่พี่น้องชาวไทยที่รักทุกคน!(S̄uk̄hs̄ạnt̒ wạn khris̄t̒mās̄ s̄mp̣hph dæ̀ phī̀n̂xng chāw thịy thī̀rạk thuk khn) | ||
| Indonesian | Selamat Paskah. | Selamat Hari Natal. | ||
| Cambodian | Serea suosdei Bonchamlong. | Rīkarāy Bon Noel | ||
| Filipino | Maligayang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay. | Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon. | ||
| Maori | Nga mihi o te Aranga ki a koutou. | Meri Kirihimete. | ||
| Samoan | Ia manuia le Efeta. | Ia manuia le Kirisimasi. | ||
| Esperanto | Feliĉan Paskon en Kristo resurektinta. | Dibenitan Kristnaskon kaj prosperan novjaron. | ||
| Guaraní | Ña nerenyhe vy’agui, Aleluya. | Ko navidad árape che maitei ame'ê peême. | ||
| Latin | Different greeting every year | |||
Sancti Apostoli Petrus et Paulus: de quorum potestate et auctoritate confidimus, ipsi intercedant pro nobis ad Dominum.
Amen.
Precibus et meritis beatae Mariae semper Virginis, beati Michaelis Archangeli, beati Ioannis Baptistae et sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli et omnium Sanctorum, misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus; et dimissis omnibus peccatis vestris, perducat vos Iesus Christus ad vitam æternam.
℟: Amen.
Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem omnium peccatorum vestrorum, spatium veræ et fructuosae pœnitentiae, cor semper paenitens, et emendationem vitae, gratiam et consolationem Sancti Spiritus; et finalem perseverantiam in bonis operibus tribuat vobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus.
℟: Amen.
Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super vos et maneat semper.
℟: Amen.[10]
May the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, in whose power and authority we trust, intercede for us before the Lord.
℟: Amen.
Through the prayers and merits of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, may Almighty God have mercy on you and forgive all your sins, and may Jesus Christ bring you to everlasting life.
℟: Amen.
May the almighty and merciful Lord grant you indulgence, absolution and the remission of all your sins, a season of true and fruitful penance, a well-disposed heart, amendment of life, the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit and final perseverance in good works.
℟: Amen.
And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you forever.
℟: Amen.[10]
Prior to the occupation of Rome by the army of the Kingdom of Italy (20 September 1870), this blessing was given more frequently and at specific basilicas at Rome:
On the occasion of a Holy Year the pope gave the blessing on other occasions too for the benefit of pilgrims. In the jubilee year of 1650 Pope Innocent XI did so at Epiphany, Pentecost, and All Saints. He and later popes gave such special-occasion blessings from the balcony of the Quirinal Palace, which was then the papal residence.[18]
Pope Pius IX, who considered himself a "prisoner in the Vatican" gave the solemn blessing of Urbi et Orbi from the balcony of the Quirinal Palace.[19]
It is the motto of Long Island University.[20]