Servus Servorum Dei

Servus Servorum Dei

"Servus Servorum Dei" is a Latin phrase meaning "Servant of the Servants of God". The phrase is one of the titles of the Pope and is used to refer to the Pope in the beginning address of Papal bulls.

History

Pope St. Gregory I (pope from 590 to 604) was the first pope to use this title to refer to himself as Pope. The adoption of the title stemmed from a dispute with the Archbishop of Constantinople John the Faster who adopted the title "Ecumenical Patriarch": the humble title "Servant of the Servants of God" countervailed the other's claim of power and eminence against the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). Some of Pope Gregory's successors used the phrase off and on for some centuries, but they did so regularly only from the 9th century. At times, some civil rulers also used this title, but after the 12th century it came to be used exclusively by the Pope.

Second Vatican Council Popes have used the concept of "Servus Servorum Dei" to help in making their office a simpler and less regal office. Pope Paul VI stopped using the Papal Tiara, and none of his successors have ever worn the tiara. John Paul I, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI dispensed with a coronation, opting instead for a simpler form of installation. Instead of receiving the Papal Tiara, the three men received the pallium during their installation ceremonies. Also, the royal "we" was dispensed with in speech and writing, and instead the singular "I" has been used by Paul VI's successors, except in Latin, a language in which, as in ancient Greek, the more impersonal "we" has the opposite effect to that of the royal "we" (cf. , , etc.). In his Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, Benedict uses the royal "we".

Biblical background

This papal title also has a biblical background found in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 20, verses 25 to 27:

:25. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. :26. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; :27. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.


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  • Servus servorum Dei — (lateinisch für „Knecht der Knechte Gottes/Diener der Diener Gottes“) ist die Selbstbezeichnung des Papstes. Sie soll in erster Linie das Amts und Selbstverständnis des Papstes kennzeichnen. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Einführung durch Gregor I. 2… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Servus servorum Dei — • Servant of the servants of God , a title given by the popes to themselves in documents of note Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Servus Servorum Dei     Servus servorum Dei …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Servus Servorum Dei — (лат. Servus Servorum Dei, «Слуга Слуг Божьих»)  один из титулов папы римского, который используется, для того чтобы обратиться к папе римскому в начинающемся адресе папских булл. История Папа римский Святой Григорий I был первым папой… …   Википедия

  • Servus Servorum Dei — (lateinisch: Knecht der Knechte Gottes) ist die Selbstbezeichnung der Päpste. Sie soll in erster Linie das Amts und Selbstverständnis des Papstes kennzeichnen. Einführung durch Gregor I. Die Devotionsformel wurde von Papst Gregor I. (590 604) als …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Servus servorum dei — (lateinisch: Knecht der Knechte Gottes) ist die Selbstbezeichnung der Päpste. Sie soll in erster Linie das Amts und Selbstverständnis des Papstes kennzeichnen. Einführung durch Gregor I. Die Devotionsformel wurde von Papst Gregor I. (590 604) als …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • SERVUS Servorum Dei — titulus Pontificis Romani quem primus usurpâsse dicitur Gregorius M. ut Ioannis Patriarchae Constantinopolitani, qui se Oecumenicum iactabat, fastum retunderet, cognomentô hô humilitatis plenô assumptô. Transiit postmodum ad Episcopos ac… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • servus servorum Dei — /sûrˈvəs sûr vōˈrəm, vöˈrəm, dēˈī, serˈvŭs, wŭs, ser vōˈrŭm, wōˈ, deˈē/ (Latin) noun A servant of the servants of God (a title adopted by the popes) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Servus Servorum Dei — Pape Pour les articles homonymes, voir Pape (homonymie). Christianisme Religions abrahamiques (arbre) Judaïsme · Christianisme · Islam Courants …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Servus servorum Dei — Sẹr|vus ser|vo|rum Dei [lat. = Knecht der Knechte Gottes]: Titel des Papstes in päpstlichen Urkunden …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Servus Servorum Dei — Ser|vus Ser|vo|rum Dei <lat. ; »Knecht der Knechte Gottes«> Titel des Papstes in päpstlichen Urkunden …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

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