Upside-Down Age

For centuries, upon their election to the papacy, a new Pontiff would swear his “Attestation of Faith,” otherwise known as the papal oath. It can be found in the Liber Diurnus Romanorum Pontificum, which has prayers and formulas dating back to St. Gregory the Great.

It begins with a vow to “guard with all my strength, even unto giving up the ghost or shedding my blood, the right and true faith.” And it continues with promises “to patiently bear the difficulties of the times.” And to guard “unaltered even by a tittle” the words of previous Councils. Then follows promises to confirm and maintain “all the decrees of the apostolic pontiffs, my predecessors.”

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Michael Brendan Dougherty

Michael Brendan Dougherty is a senior writer at National Review Online.

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For centuries, upon their election to the papacy, a new Pontiff would swear his “Attestation of Faith,” otherwise known as the papal oath. It can be found in the Liber Diurnus Romanorum Pontificum, which has prayers and formulas dating back to St. Gregory the Great.

It begins with a vow to “guard with all my strength, even unto giving up the ghost or shedding my blood, the right and true faith.” And it continues with promises “to patiently bear the difficulties of the times.” And to guard “unaltered even by a tittle” the words of previous Councils. Then follows promises to confirm and maintain “all the decrees of the apostolic pontiffs, my predecessors.”