RE-BURIAL OF THE LATE POPE.

Evening Star, Issue 5767, 2 September 1881, Page 1

RE-BURIAL OF THE LATE POPE.

A disgraceful scene occurred on the occasion of the ceremonies attendant upon the removal of the body of Pius IX. from its temporary resting place. The vault was opened in the presence of Monsignori Pericoli, Appolloni, and Machi, the entire Chapter of St. Peter's, and PadreDomenico Moliterno, rector of the Church of San Lorenzo, who was charged to receive the body. After the opening of the outer case of wood and the verification of the seals on the leaden coffin, among which is that of the present Pope, who was then Chamberlain, the body was carried to the chapel, the choir meanwhile chanting a "Miserere" in undertones. The ceremonies within the church over, the body was placed on a funeral car and covered with the historical crimson draperies, embroidered with gold, which have been used to decorate the Loggia della Benedizione since the time of Innocent 111. At the moment of starting the Piazza was illuminated by the Bengal light, which, with the thousand torches carried by the assistants, produced an extraordinary effect. The procession, surrounded and followed by an immense mass of people, proceeded quietly for some distance, until eries began to arise in the crowd of "Viva l'ltalia," "Viva Garibaldi," replied to by those following the hearse with counter cries of " Viva Pio Nono," "Yiva II Papa Re." Then a most scandalous and disgraceful scene commenced. The torches were seized and extinguished, sticks were freely used, and the funeral car was'urged forward at a trot, surrounded by breathless priests, loud chanting was partly drowned by the cries and hootings. Lines of police were formed across the streets, and were twice broken through. Along the immense length of the Yia Nazionale the. scene was indescribably painful, the procession being received with alternate clappings and hootings, as in a theatre. Of 6,000 torches surrounding the bier at St. Peter's only a few hundreds reached the cemetery. Here two companies of soldiers kept the crowd in check ; but during the final ceremonies of the interment in San Lorenzo the noise of the crowd outside was distinctly audible. The majority of the respectable citizens naturally condemn this demonstration ; but blame is also cast on the Government for not having taken sufficient precautions. Others declare that the demonstration was provoked by the clerical party. Several diplomatists have suggested to the Pope that lie should make a formal protest, assuring him or the support of the Catholic powers. A special congregation was to be held to consider the matter.