January 23, 2012. (Romereports.com) After being blessed at a basilica of St. Agnes,  these two lambs were presented before Benedict XVI at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

The lamb's wool will be used to make the palliums that metropolitan archbishops will wear on June 29th, the feast day of St. Peter and St. Paul.

The pallium is a distinct garment, that's worn by the pope and a few bishops.


It resembles a scarf and it has a total of six black silk crosses embroided on it. The pope personally gives the pallium to archbishops of major cities and also to those serving in ancient Roman provinces and regional capitals.

The wool itself was blessed on January 21st,  the feast day of St. Agnes. The martyr died in the 3rd century after being persecuted.

Her name shares its roots with the word “Agnus” which means lamb in Latin. It's because of this that over the years, she's usually depicted carrying a lamb in her arms.


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