Q: Is the pall required to cover the chalice? According to GIRM 118 (C ) it only says if appropriate. GIRM 142 mentions the pall again. When does the GIRM envision it to be appropriate since the paten already covers the chalice.
A: As you can plainly see from the places you cite, the use of the pall is not obligatory. The GIRM does not call for the paten to cover the chalice. It may, but that’s not obligatory either.