Pallium – contemporary shape and theories about origin

Abstract

For many centuries the Roman Catholic Church talks about the pallium and its origin. In the article in the chronological order there have been introduced the authors: P. de Marca, G. Moroni Romano, F. Vespasiani, R. Garrucci, Ch. de Rohault de Fleury, G. Morin, L. Duchesne, J. Wilpert, H. Grisar, A. J. Adam, J. Baudot, J. Braun, H. Leclercq, M. Righetti, R. Lesage, B. Neunheuser, J. Lewandowicz, S. Piccolo Paci, who analysed the provenance of the Roman pallium. Research on the Roman insignia – a robe, just very intense in the second half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, have not elaborated the one theory, acceptable as a consensus for the scientific community. Hypothesis that the pallium was from St. Peter’s mantle is collectively rejected. Certificate of Constantinian donation is also negated. However the other theories seem remaining more or less probable, that does not mean that they are convincing. There are no historical sources read in a critically clear way, and it makes that all theories have some gaps.