Versus populum

The papal legate, card. Pacelli, during the Holy Mass celebrated in the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on July 13, 1937. The throne is placed before the high altar, therefore the cardinal is seated facing the nave and the temporary altar set up at the crossing of the choir and the transept, in such a way that the celebrant stood versus populum (facing the people). This arrangement was the result of changes introduced in his cathedral church by Jean Verdier, Archbishop Metropolitan of Paris, who, after a period of theological studies in Rome, was deeply impressed by the liturgy of the Roman basilicas, where the altar is positioned in precisely this manner.