“CITY OF VATICAN.”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10871, 15 April 1929, Page 3

“CITY OF VATICAN.”

PAPAL TiIEATY SIGNED WITH PEN OF GOLD.

HOME BLESSED BY THE POPE

In the ancient palace of the L;)toran was , signed the treaty which ends the quarrel between the. Italian Government and the Pope, and restores to the latter temporal sovereignty as the independent ruler of the “City of the Vatican.” The treaty was signed last month bv Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, on behalf of the Pope, and by Signor Mussolini, the Italian Premier, on behalf of' King Victor.

An immense crowd, representative of every race and dime, gathered in tile square of St. John Lateran, which faces ten large windows of the Papal Hall, whore the ceremony was solemnised. Students from the Propaganda College lined up on both sides of the entrance to the palace wearing their ca-ssocks —lads from China, the Philippines, Japan, Siam si ml Central Africa standing side by side with Portuguese, Finns, . Scotsmen, Greeks and a large sprinkling of • America ID. Dominican friars in their white robes mingled..with Franciscans in brown and Augustinians in black and white, while hero and there mendicant monks in their bare loot braved the cold and wet with stoical fortitude. There were even a lew nuns in groups among the crowd. Cardinal Gasparri bail been suffering with a cold. VYrapped up in si thick Inanllc, he warmly received Signor Mussolini, who came wearing a frock coat and top hat and accompanied by the leaders of the Fascist party. It was' a thrilling moment, though the whole ceremony was quietly busi-ness-like, when tin’ great clock of St. John Lateran tolled Ihe hour of noon.

Th plenipotentiaries ranged themselves at si large rectangular table, and. as the hour chimed. Cardinal Gasparri and Signor Mussolini began i 0 sign the documents, using a quill pen mounted in gold. The aid mil ceremony lusted for 20 minutes, alter which Cardinal Gasparri presented Signor .Mussolini with the gold pen used for the signature. Immediatelv the signing of the documents had been completed. Cardinal Gasnarri drove away, followed by Signor Mussolini, the crowd aecordug to each a great ovation.

In Pome and all the principal cities of Italy the signing of the treaty was celebrated by illuminations and general rejoicings. And oil the following day Pome gave itself up to high festival, the occasion being the seventh anniversary of the Pope's coronation. A crowd of 2(H).OPO assembled in llie Square of St. Peter’s, and after the celebration of High Mass, thi> Pontiff appeared on the loggia above the entrance to the cathedral and blessed Rome and its citizen-. Afterwards he waved his bat in acknowledgment of the enthusiastic cheers of the vast assemblage.