RELIGIOUS FERVOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27275, 29 December 1949, Page 5

RELIGIOUS FERVOUR

Pilgrims To Vatican City Constant Stream Through Holy Door NZP A—Copyright Rec. 9.19 p.m. ROME, Dec. 28. More .than 250,000 people have already passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s since its ceremonial opening by the Pope on Christmas Eve. Pontifical gendarmes and Palatine guards are doing their best to keep the stream of worshippers moving through the door, but their task is difficult because of the religious fervour of the pilgrims. Many kneel on the threshold and pray. The Holy Door is permanently floodlit and is flanked by bearded laymen in red rones and Spanish collars—members of Rome’s religious confraternities The Pope had planned to say a midnight mass on Christmas Eve for foreigners only, but many thousands of Romans arrived at St. Peter’s and everyone was allowed in. Pope’s Health The Pope’s medical advisers are seriously worried about the state of his health under the strain put on him by the demands of the Holy Year, and the Vatican authorities are planning to cut down his public appearances to the absolute minimum. The Pope, who is 73, has for some time suffered from constant headaches caused by chronic maxillary sinisitis and asthmatic bronchitis. These headaches produce disturbances of his vision and breathlessness, which are accentuated when he has to wear his heavy ceremonial vestments.