GREAT SPECTACLE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 120, 14 February 1929, Page 11

GREAT SPECTACLE

AT ST. PETER’S, ROME SOLEMN THANKSGIVING FOR PEACE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF POPE’S CORONATION (United Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Rome, February 12. An imposing spectacle was seen at St. Peter’s on what was nominally the seventh anniversary of the coronation of the Pope, but what was converted into a solemn thanksgiving for peace with Italy. Despite the rain the crowd waited for four hours for the Pope’s appearance on the balcony. The Pope had a tumultuous reception. It is estimated that a hundred thousand received his Benediction.. As he raised his hand for the third time, the crowd stood up and cheered frenziedly. It is the third time since 1870 that public Benediction has been given. Another outstanding incident was that it was the first time for sixty years that uniformed military men entered the Basilica to participate in the Mass.

JOYFUL TIDINGS TO CATHOLICS OF BRITISH EMPIRE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, February 12. \ Sir Austen Chamberlain, speaking at Birmingham last night, referred to the settlement of the Roman question. He said: “We are a Protestant nation, but we cannot but remember that among the subjects of His Majesty are many millions of Catholics to whom'"this news will be tidings of great joy. For-myself, I would, like to i offer my respectful congratulations alike to His Holiness the Pope and to Signor Mussolini, on this happy close to a long quarrel. May other quarrels, , which to-day seem as impossible of . solution as the Roman question seemed in 1870, , with the lapse of years find a similar happy solution.”