The pallium is a circular band of white lamb’s wool marked with six black crosses, worn across the shoulders over the chasuble. Each year the pope bestows the pallium on metropolitan archbishops who have been named during the previous year. The ceremony is held on the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, the patron saints of Rome.

Archbishop-designate Lucas said the trip was unexpected. Although his appointment to the Omaha Archdiocese was made public on June 3, he will not officially be installed until July 22.

“Since my appointment was announced so recently, I thought I would probably be in next year’s class of new archbishops,” Archbishop-designate Lucas said. “But I have received the invitation and, of course, I’m eager to go. This conferral of the pallium will solidify the bonds between the Archdiocese of Omaha and the Vicar of Christ. I hope it will be the occasion for the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Omaha to pray for the apostolic ministry of the pope.”

The ecclesial province of Omaha includes the Archdiocese of Omaha and the dioceses of Lincoln and Grand Island.

“I will be praying during my time in Rome for two special intentions: that I might be a good archbishop in Omaha, and that a shepherd with the mind and heart of Christ will be appointed soon to be bishop of Springfield,” Archbishop-designate Lucas said.

June 29 also marks the end of the Year of St. Paul. During the Pauline year, which commemorates the 2,000th anniversary of St. Paul’s birth, Pope Benedict asked Catholics and Christians everywhere to study and reflect on the apostle’s contribution to the life of the church.