Archbishop Alarcon receives pallium from Pope Francis

Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of the Archdiocese of Caceres received the pallium from Pope Francis during a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on June 29.

The pallium, a symbol of an archbishop's unity with the Pope and his pastoral role, is made of woven lambswool.

Pope Francis encouraged the 42 appointed archbishops to be zealous shepherds who spread the Gospel and foster an open Church and society.

While the ceremony was held in Rome, Alarcon will receive the investiture of the pallium in Caceres at a later date, following a change initiated by Pope Francis in 2015 to decentralize the bestowal.