Syriac-Catholic Liturgy at Santa Maria Maggiore

From the Rorate Caeli blog (where more pictures are available):

"His Beatitude Mar Ignatius Joseph III, Syrian Catholic Patriarch of Antioch celebrated a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in the Syro-Antiochene Rite June 18, 2009, at the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major. The occasion was the granting of ecclesial communion to the Patriarch by Pope Benedict XVI. (Upon their election, Eastern Catholic Patriarchs ask for, and receive, the ecclesiastica communio from the Roman Pontiff.)

"Without in any way wishing to be critical of the Syrian Catholics in this time of great joy for them, and solely for the information of our readers, I would like to note the extensive influence of Roman liturgical vesture on the vestments of Syrian Catholic clergy, an influence also present in the Chaldean and Maronite Catholic Churches. Thus, their use of tall Latin-style mitres and lace albs, and vestment decor that is more Western than Oriental.

"The more authentic style of Syrian liturgical vesture has been preserved by the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in India, which is co-heir to the Syriac tradition along with the Syriac Catholic Church."(SSJC: and the Syriac Orthodox Church).

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is the patriarchal church in Rome of the Patriarchs of Antioch, St Peter's being proper to the Patriarch of Constantinople.