God placing the Sun in Aries. An astronomical version of the creation, for the universe was supposed to have begun with the sun and planets in conjunction in the first degree of Aries, the starting point of the Zodiac. Giunta Press (Venice) Pontificale, 1520. The Roman Pontifical or Pontifical, also referred to in Latin as the Pontificale or Pontificale Romanum, is the Roman Catholic liturgical book that contains the rites performed by bishops.The Pontifical is practically an episcopal ritual, containing formularies and rubrics for the sacraments of confirmation and Holy orders; however, it does not include the rites for the Mass or the Divine Office, which can be found in the Roman Missal and Roman Breviary, respectively.