Urbi et Orbi

views updated May 29 2018

Urbi et Orbi (Lat., ‘to the city and to the world’). The blessing given by the pope on solemn occasions, initially from any one of the basilicas in Rome, but now from St Peter's. The custom was revived in 1922 after an interval of fifty years, becoming increasingly an occasion of adulation of the pope.

urbi et orbi

views updated May 11 2018

urbi et orbi Latin phrase meaning, ‘to the city (of Rome) and to the world’, as used in papal proclamations and blessings.