AN AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3249, 5 July 1872, Page 3

AN AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE.

The Graphic's artist p.t Rome (Mr Sydney Hall) writes : — '■ This was one of those week-day receptions usually largely attended by visitors to Rome. A request is sent to a Monsignore, and after more or less time a printed invitation comes through his hands, in which we are bidden to appear at the Vatican on an appointed day ; ladies to be dressed in black and veiled, gentlemen in evening dress without gloves. Tho Hcene of the reception varies. In this caso it was in the Loggia of Pio IX., a long and narrow arcade, painted on the model of the Loggia of Raphael, which faces it across the court on the same floor. When I entered it was lined on either side with chairs, on which sat those who were about to be presented. 1 found a place, and composed myself to wait full half an hour. There were the walls to look at, covered with arabesques and paintings of birds, beasts, and fishes. The fishes recalled the occupation of the first of the Popes. There are quaila that fed the children of Israel; ibises that the Egyptians worshipped ; the pelican of the wilderness ; the owl in the desert ; the sparrow on the housetop ; locusts, wild honey, and wild guinea-pigs. My studies were divided between a very pretty American girl, to whose confetti I had offered myself as a victim during Carnival, and an English militia officer in silver and scarlet of a very ancient fashion. All of us had brought rosaries to be blest, which hung on our arms, the gentlemen being bedizened with armlets, and bracelets, and necklaces, almost as much as the ladies. At length a Swiss guard appeared at the end of the gallery, and after him a Monsignore, who made a sign which we interpreted to mean, " The Pope is coming ; y°u had better kneel." So we all knelt. And between the kneeling lines came the Pope ; lifted his hand for a minute in benediction ; then motioned us to rise. So we all roae. Tho Pope was in his statuesque dress of white —all white. He was followed by Monsignori in black and violet, one of whom ; held his scarlet hat. Then one by one his visitor* were introduced to him, not ;by their names, but by their nations; and Ito an American he would say, " All, New York !" to the Irish, " Ah, Doblino !" to the English, " Ah, Londra !" The person i addressed meanwhile reverently bent the j knee, and after tliis remark kissed the I hand of His Holiness.

I was wondering whether I should kneel decorously and kis3 his hand in the right place, when his progress was stopped by a little boy who was suddenly possessed and prophesied —in other words, he knelt and repeated a piece of poetry before him. The Pope was brought to a j long standstill; he philosophically took | out his snuff-box, and patted now the snuff-box, now the head of the little boy; said, "bravo, bravo;" and between the pinches addressed a word or two of congratulation to the devoted mother, who knelt alongside. In time the child finished, and the Pope moved on. My turn bad all but come ; but when the Pope was next but one to me, my next neighbour, a young girl, prostrated herself before him, and flung her arms about with wild gesticulations close to my face. She made a fervid address, in which the words " barbarians," "temples," "profanation," were hoard at short intervals. Now there was scarcely a yard between the Pope and myself, and we kept looking first at the girl and then |at owe another, exchanging glances of scant I approval, so that I seemed to get <juite at home with His Holiness. Once, upon my word, his eyes twinkled bo, that I thought he winked at me ; and the snuffbox was so close that I should not have been surprised if ho had offered me a pinch. Now this familiarity into which I had been betrayed by thote touches of nature and pinches of snuff, bred contempt for me in the mind of the Holy Father. For when my own introduction

came, though I bent tho knee most humbly, and kissed his hand most reverently (just between the third and little finger below the ring), he vouchsafed me never & word—not even "Ah, Londm!"

He passed on, and when all hod been introduced he made a short speech in French, in which he trusted that in these times of error his blessing might tend to lead us to truth. Then he blessed us, and all our crosses and rosaries, while we knelt again. And so ihe audience ended ; but just as the Pope was going away a lady threw herself on the ground before him to kiss his foot, and a Monsignore gallantly assisted by lifting up the white robe from tho scarlet slipper. It was a little comic, this ; but showed %?hat marvellous hold the spiritual power has still over the hearts of women if not of men.