N.Z. PILGRIMS TO ROME

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26129, 3 June 1950, Page 8

N.Z. PILGRIMS TO ROME

SPECIAL AUDIENCE WITH POPE VISITS 110 LISIEUX AND LOURDES (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. June 2. A special audience with the Pope was a satisfying cl.Vnax to the pilgrimage to Rome for lk) New Zealanders led by Bishop O’Neill, from Dunedin. The Pope receivdti the New Zealanders in the Consfetory Hall in the Vatican. They were introduced! collectively to him by Bishop O’Neilu and the Pope spoke for five minutes’, in Eng.is h. He expressed his -reciation of their making such a long* journey, and also his interest in the Dominion. He gave the pilgrims special .blessings lor themselves and their and relations and for New Zealand. Tne Pope walked along the frevt row of New Zealanders, shaking h :nds and talking with them, and whcM he saw that Mr M. Shea (Dunedin) as using crutches (he broke a leg dry ing the voyage to England), and tltat Mi s Anne Rennie (Lower Hutt> walked with a stick, he gave them in iividuai blessings. Before leaving, the Pope called forward the New Zealand* rs at the back of the hall so that they anight see him the more'clearly. The audience lasted 12 minutes.

Father J. N. Pound (Oamaru) said that through delay in leaving Amkland the party arrived in London a week behind schedule, and had 13 leave for the Continent the next day Three days were spent in Paris nt magnificent weather, and in addition to sightseeing a pilgrimage was made to Lisieux, where the New Zealanders saw the Basilica of Saint Theresa. “Through travelling hitches we spent a night in Turin and went to the Church of the Holy Shroud.” he said. “We arrived in Rome a day late and were met at the station by Archbishop V. Valeri, the president of the Central Holy Year Committee, and by a number of New Zealand priests and students who had already drawn up a provisional programme for us. “They were headed by Mr John Cavanagh (Wellington), and included Fathers Brian Ashby and C. Hally (Christchurch). F. O’Dea (Dunedin), and Kelly (Wellington). The students were Messrs G. Marinkovitch (Auckland), P. McLeod (Lower Hutt). B. Ryan (Waitahuna). Simmons (Wellington). and M. Petheram (New Plymouth), some of whom are studying at the Russium. or Russian. College in I preparation for the time when the Iron I Curtain is lowered and priests arc allowed into Russia again. Without the help of these New Zealanders our pilgrimage in Rome would not have been the success it was. Visit to Cassino “We spent 12 days in Rome and made a number of tours. One was to Cassino, where we saw the New Zealand cemetery. It is beautifully kept and it must be a great consolation to those who have loved ones there to know that the graves are carefully tended. The cemetery is a flat lawn surrounded by beds of flowers, and there is a small white tombstone on each grave with the name and regimental number. A few just bore the inscription, ‘A New Zealand Soldier.' “We spent a night at Naples and visited Pompeii and Sorrento,” Father Pound said. “The scenery at Sorrento was glorious and the scenic highlight of the pilgrimage. While in Roine we attended a canonisation ceremony at St. Peter's. I had the privilege of speaking on the Vatican Radio for a • quarter of an hour. My talk was directed to New Zealand, but whetner it was heard there I have not jet learned. After leaving Rome we returned. via Florence. Nice, and Toulouse. and then spent four wonderful days at Lourdes. In Lourdes it was quiet and restful, and there was an intense atmosphere of spirituality. The Bishop celebrated Mass at the grotto where Our Ladv appeared to Saint Bernadette, and we took part in thj famous torchlight procession., which

ended, unfortunately, in a thunde storm.

“The night before we left Lourdes we took part in a Holy Hour c inducted by Father M. MrAul.ffe, who is well known in New Zealand. The Bishop said Mass at main aitar in the cryct of the basilica, while the seven New Zealand priests in the pilgrimage also said Mass at altars surrounding the crypt. From Lourdes we travelled straight back to London—a tiring journey. “In Britain we have been sightseeing. On Whit Monday we attended a hurling match at Mitcham between Cork and Tipperary, the All-Ireland finalists, and the Pishop present'd cups and made a speech, to the delight of thousands of London Irish. We have seen Windsor Castle, Eton, and Hampton Court, and shall be going to Oxford and Stratford,” said Father Pound. The pilgrimage ends officially on June 8. when the party breaks up into separate groups.