Conçue et réalisée avec des débris d'argent offerts par les Américains, par Adrián Pallarols, orfèvre argentin, ami de longue date du cardinal Bergoglio qui l'a marié, a baptisé sa fille ..., l'a reçu en audience privée

[...]

The chalice in rich in symbolism, Pallorls explained. There is a node in the chalice, for example, which has two galleries, each with six columns that represent the 12 apostles—the pillars of the church. The Gothic galley of the node is composed of 60 pieces.

A map of the United States with Alaska and the Hawaiian islands has been placed at the center of the node, so that when the pope puts his hand around the node to raise the chalice at Mass, he will in fact be symbolically embracing all the people of the United States.

Ornaments that create the cup of the chalice are inserted in the capitals of the columns, depicting the fruits of the Garden of Eden. Three precious stones of ruby, sapphire and crystal, have been inserted into the cup of the chalice; they represent the colors of the flag of the United States and, coincidentally, the colors of the three cities that Francis will visit: Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia. The stones also represent the colors that are prominent in the image of “Our Lady, Undoer of Knots,” to which Bergoglio became particularly devoted since his days in Germany. A papal crest has been engraved in the chalice opposite the rose of St. Therese of Liseux, to whom Francis has a special devotion.

At the base of the 30-centimeter (almost one-foot-tall) chalice one can see engraved the flags of the United States and the Holy See, symbolizing a union between the two states. The chalice weighs 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds) and the Communion paten—on the base of which is a hand-chiseled medallion of the Our Lady, Undoer of Knots—weighs 300 grams (0.66 pounds). The three precious stones—ruby, crystal and sapphire (red, white and blue)—have also been inserted into the paten.

This magnificently crafted chalice is made of more than 85 different pieces that are either screwed into or soldered together by hand. This fine work of craftsmanship has already gained high praise on Twitter from the Papal Master of Ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini. It will be presented to Pope Francis during his visit to the United States. Exactly how and where this will be done is not clear at the time of writing.

Some 5.8 kilos of silver remained after the making of the chalice. Pallarols said this will be sold and the proceeds will be made available to the Pope for whatever charitable purpose he decides.

Il calice che il popolo argentino donerà al Papa,

Il disegno di Adrian Pallerols. prevede tra le decorazioni l’immagine della Madonna di Lujan, patrona dell’Argentina; le rose per rappresentare Santa Teresa; la sagoma del Sudamerica e lo stemma nazionale dell’Argentina. Il calice avrà incastonata anche una pietra di rodocrosite donata dai minatori di Catamarca. All’interno sarà bagnato in oro e le sue dimensioni sono di 26 centimetri di altezza, 15 di diametro alla base, 9 al bordo, insieme alla patena di 15 centimetri di diametro che riporta l’immagine della Vergine Desatanudos (“Sciogli nodi”), devozione mariana promossa in Argentina dall’allora cardinale Bergoglio. Infine, nella parte liscia della base, si legge il motto di Papa Francesco: Miserando atque eligendo.

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