A GREAT PAPAL CEREMONY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 288, 31 August 1929, Page 29

A GREAT PAPAL CEREMONY

POMP OF FORMER DAYS RECALLED

On the occasion of the feast of Saint James 1 the Apostle, Rome will be the scene of an event which will recall something of the old days when the Popes held temporal power over the whole city and the Papal States beyond, writes the London “Observer’s” correspondent before the event. I’ope Pius XI. will emerge .from his retirement and take part in a solemn procession round the Colonnade in St. Peter’s Square. Though he will not leave, his own territory, he will appear in public outside the Vatican for the first time and will affirm his status as an independent sovereign. For thousands of Italian soldiers, who will guard the Square, will salute him as such. Another significant point is that hundreds of seminarists, convened here from all parts of the world for a special congress and for the celebration of the Pope’s sacerdotal jubilee, will take part in the procession, thereby demonstrating the universal character of tfie Pontiff’s spiritual sovereignty. No Pope has allowed such a procession round St. Peter’s Square since the loss of temporal power. But 1 next Thursday the solemn ceremony will be accompanied by all the pomp the Vatican used to show on similar occasions. A double fence will isolate .the Colonnade from the square and the Piazza Rusticucci, so that His Holiness can lie carried round without fear of being pressed by the people who will have free access to the square till within half aii hour of the time appointed for the procession to begin (at six or half-past).

Members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See and other distinguished persons will have seats in one of the loggias in the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Pope expressed the wish to leave the square perfectly free for the general public, and there is no doubt that the Romans, who never fail to flock to acclaim their Pope whenever they have an opportunity of doing so, will go there in huge numbers. Balconies, windows, . and roof gardens in the adjoining Piazza Rusticucci, which is not papal territory, arc already at a'premium, as is every point of vantage in the neighbouring thoroughfares. Haltway up the wide steps which lead from St. Peter’s Square to the Basilica, an altar will be placed. From it. the Pope will impart the apostolic benediction, at the close of the procession. He has chosen a magnificent altar in bronze, the gift of the late Cardinal Rampolla to the Deand and Chapter of the Basilica. A tapestry depicting the Last Supper will bang at the back of it. Tapestries, given by Nap-

oleon Bonaparte to Pope Pius VI., will decorate the Colonnade, the facade of St. Peter’s, and some of the outer, pillars. A canopy of red velvet trimmed with long golden fringe will be placed over-the altar.

The Pope will be carried on a “podium” or small platform, and not in the gestatorial chair. The podium is a copy of one made for Pope Alexander VII. after Bernini’s designs. To a faldstool firmly fixed upon it will be attached the Monstrance in which the consecrated Host is placed. 7 Though the Pope will really be seated on a small armchair, a clever ari-angement of embroidered brocade draperies will make' it appear as though he were kneeling at the faldstool. The inner sides of the podium are padded, to save him from inevitable knocks as he is being carried round. The podium is made of gilded wood and decorated with the heads of seraphim. Over it a canopy will be carried: it is in cloth of silver, and has the pontiff’s coat-of-arms in relief.

The procession will open with a detachment of the Swiss Guards and the pontifical master of ceremonies. They will be followed by the procurators of the Sacred College, apostolic preachers and secret chamberlains of cape and sword. Then there will be representatives of the religious orders, seminarists from all parts of the world, chaplains, members of the pontifical tribunals, mitred abbots, archbishops, bishops, and their surrogates. ’ The cardinals, who will appear in full robes, will be escorted by their gentlcmen-in-waiting. each carrying his Cardinal's lighted candle, which, It is said, must weigh three pounds, whilst other dignitaries carry smaller ones, whose weight varies with their rank. The Cardinals also have a guard of honour, drafted . from the Noble Guards.' Canticles and prayers will be chanted as the long procession slowly winds itself round the colonnade. As. the Pope approaches, the crowds will drop to their knees, adoring the Host. When the procession is over the Pope will leave bis podium and go up to the altar on the steps, to impart the Apostolic blessing. After that, he will be carried through the bfonze gates into the Vatican. As the procession will take at least two hours, night will fall before it is over, for there is no twilight here. It will certainly be dark before the Pope reaches the altar, to give bis Benediction. All the photographers who have flocked to Rome to “take” His Holiness and the film operators are in despair about the difficulty of getting good pictures.