THE MAGIC OF ROME

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2017, 26 March 1914, Page 5

THE MAGIC OF ROME

GLIMPSES OF IT :' 1

NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS,

"Borne is still the eenfro of the vorld, r.ot eoimnereialiy, but emotionally," sajs Mi. Thcu, Queree, who has just returned from an extended European tour. "One cannot help feeling that after being within the seven hills for a fmv days. X Was there for a fortnight, and ooisld liavo wept at liavyj.g. 'vo uniicen. There .are wayside • crii.ci.fctss' And 'madonnas everywhere, and seldom, if ever, were they without some devout tenant. I was. foi innate enough to he in Rome during the celebrations in honour ot Constantino the Grotft, the first Clrristiait King, i!«l Home wns'nill of people from »sH twits oi thu var.ld. His Holiness tho Pope gave lour public receptions (two a week) to cope with the. great influx of people, and having secured au invitation., which I had to write in for, I attended.

j "It was really a most impressive siiillt. At tlieso public'receptions about--305 people are present- in a kind of ■courtyard witlnti tho Vatican buildings, There is an elevated balcony at r.jifr end., and before the Pope appealed, this was hung with rich scarlet robes,. She.it trumpeters blow a fanfare, and the Pope advances to tho front of the balcony supported by several Cardinals. Everydne kneels, A certain recital is gone through, and I noted that Jlis Holiness, wljo looked in remarkably fipii health, cbanted the responses in. a rich. _ strong baritmio voice. Finally ho gives his blessing to everyone present, I never sjt.w such a sccn.fc tn my life. I looked round and, on every side, were streaming eves, and hands vinistretched towards tho Pope-liiuids holding crucifixes, .holy pictures, and relics, which were to be taken to tiie homes of their owners near and far. It was a most touching; sec-ne. "I was also shown tho sacred steps whicb :tro said to have been the. marble stops sent from tho palace of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, by St. Elena, that were trodden by Christ. They are now situated next to the Latomn Church, in Bump', and arc covered with thin ; boards, presumably to preserve them, fmm wear, for all day. long the devout : front all parts of the world mount these steps on their kr.ces. repeating a prayer on cadi step. I visited/the spot several times., hut never found them unoccupied by pilgrims." / - Regarding his visit to tbc Vatican, Mi - . Qimrce said that lie was informed ■ that- the Swiss guard (the Pope's bodyguard) still wear a uniform of. the pattern originallv designed bv the great i Michaci Angelo.