What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

This is exactly what I was thinking His Holiness would do.  

Biretta tip to Roman Miscellany

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Let us hope that this new appointment will also result in other changes at the Office as well!

Over at Catholic Sensibility there is a lengthy post on the infamous "sign of peace" and the way people engage in it.

I bring this up for the sake of reminding you that the "sign of peace" is an OPTION.  The invitation to make a "sign of peace" is at the discretion of the priest.  The rubrics in Latin GIRM no. 154 indicate that the invitation to the "sign of peace" is something made pro opportunitate.  This is repeated in the rubrics in the Ordo at 128.  The phrase pro opportunitate means "as circumstances indicate".  The priest can determine that the circumstances to not call for a "sign of peace" on the part of the people. 

In GIRM 154 we find also that the priest "can" (potest) give a sign of peace to the sacred ministers, even if no invitation was extended to the people to exchange a sign of peace.  The priest obvious can also chose not to give a sign of peace to the ministers.

Also, it is to be clearly noted that the language of GIRM 154 indicates that Mass is to be celebrated ad orientem, that is, with the priest and the people facing the same direction.  Why?  The Latin says, "... extendens et iungens manus, pacem annuntiat, versus ad populum, dicens… opening and then joining his hands he announces ‘peace’, having turned toward the people, saying…".  The priest, if he choses to invite the sign of peace, is to turn toward the people to make it that invitation.