The Preacher of the Papal Household
The Preacher of the Papal Household, formerly known as the Apostolic Preacher, is the member of the Papal Family responsible for delivering a meditation (weekly, during Advent and Lent) in the presence of the Pope, cardinals, bishops, prelates, and the superior generals of religious orders.
Since Advent of 1995, by directive of John Paul II, some women—both religious and lay—who work in the Vatican have also been allowed to attend the sermon. The establishment of this office dates back to Pope Paul IV (1555) as part of his efforts to reform the Church and the Roman Curia. Before that, the title of Apostolic Preacher had been granted to certain sacred orators, but only as an honorary title, without them actually preaching in the presence of the Pope.
The office was held by members of various religious orders, especially Jesuits, until Benedict XIV, with the constitution Inclitum fratrum on March 2, 1743, permanently assigned it to the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor, who have held the position to this day.
The liturgical seasons for preaching have almost always been Advent and Lent, with few exceptions, though the days, locations, and modalities have changed over time. Currently, following the reform of the Papal Household with the motu proprio Pontificalis Domus by Paul VI on March 28, 1968, the sermons are held in the Paul VI Hall every Friday during Advent and Lent, except for the first week of Lent, when the Pope attends the Spiritual Exercises.
On Good Friday, the sermon takes place in St. Peter’s Basilica during the Liturgy of the Passion, presided over by the Holy Father.
Bibliography:
Mauro da Leonessa, The Apostolic Preacher. Historical Notes. Isola del Liri, 1929; Lexicon Capuccinum, Rome 1951, pp. 437-438; Analecta Ordinis Fratrum Minorum Capuccinorum, 2 (1886), pp. 356-362; 96 (1980), pp. 226-244 (Bull of Benedict XIV and list of Preachers updated to 1980); G. Ingegneri, “The Apostolic Preachers of the Seventeenth Century”; in Capuchin Preaching in the Seventeenth Century, Rome, Istituto Storico dei Cappuccini, 1997, pp. 197-222.
