Rome (ZENIT) -- Msgr. Guido Marini, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, announced that Pope Francis has modified the ceremony of investiture of the Pallium which takes place on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, Msgr. Marini said the ceremony of investiture will take place in the home dioceses of the Metropolitan Archbishops and not in St. Peter's Basilica.

Instead, it will be celebrated in two moments: the first will be the blessing of the Pallium on June 29thduring a Mass presided by the Holy Father. The second will take place in the Metropolitan Archbishop's diocese where the ceremony of investiture will be presided by the Apostolic Nuncio.

Msgr. Marini stated that two ceremonies will both continue to symbolize the communion between the Successor of Peter and the bishops and allow for the participation of the local Church "in an important moment of its life and history.

"The meaning of this change is to place more emphasis on the relationship of the Metropolitan Archbishops – the newly nominated – with their local Church, thus also giving more faithful the possibility to be present in this very significant event for them, and particularly also for the Suffragan Bishops of the Dioceses, who in this way can participate in the moment of the imposition [of hands]," he said.

The new modifications to the ceremony of Investiture of the Pallium will begin this year.