WOMEN’S DRESS CENSORED IN VATICAN CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19118, 10 July 1930, Page 10

WOMEN’S DRESS CENSORED IN VATICAN CITY.

With the Lateran Pact passed into the realm of historical documents, and Pius XI. under its terms free to leave the confines of the Vatican, the ancient rules and traditions so long a part of St Peter’s are being revealed once more. For the pact not only created the Vatican City State, but fundamentally changed the Pontiff’s life and position, says a correspondent.

Before, he was a prisoner, even though a voluntary one. Now he is free to travel the world over. From a mere occupant of the Vatican, dependent for his home on the goodwill of the Italian State, the Pope is monarch. Born an Italian, he is now a “foreigner,” first citizen of his own realm, for the Pope enjoys exactly the same sovereign status as the President of the United States, the King of England Cv’d the heads of all other republics and monarchies.

Contrary to general belief, the Cardinals have no say in thq> State’s rule. Only when the Holy See becomes vacant through the reigning Pope’s death do his administrative powers pass to them. Even then they may only issue laws in case of emergency. The new Pope can quash them. Women’s Dress Censored.

The Vatican City State is the only one in the world set in the midst of another State’s capital. Monumental walls are its frontiers; an immeasurable spiritual abyss divides it from all realms. As in other States, foreigners —meaning everybody but the 518 Vatican citizens—must produce passports. The Swiss Guards mount sentry at the massive gates. They can deny ingress if the applicant is unsuitably dressed or in any way disorderly. For the women, short skirts and bare arms arc classed as unsuitable. In brilliant red and yellow garb, plumed helmets, halberds, these Swiss Guards have defended the Popes’ lives and property for over four centuries, often shedding blood freely. They cgme from Switzerland’s three Catholic Cantons. There are about 300 now, but more are being recruited. Day and night they stand outside the Pope’s doors and challenge all comers. Vatican City is the quietest city in the world. Street cries, squabbles, never cross its borders. Besides having some of the finest architecture and art treasures in existence, it is full of the colour of past ages. Whether you wander in the vast chambers of its palaces, admire the Pope’s new railway station —which will enable him to reach other countries without setting foot in Italy—or mail cards with, the new

Papal stamps, you meet Papal chamberlains in hose, doublet and sword, noble guards in fur colpaks and scarlet, gendarmes in Napoleonic uniforms. Cardinals in bright robes, resplendent Ambassadors are all on their way to private audience with the Pope. Everybody looks cheerful, but talks quietly. Courtesy is a well-observed law. No More Gossiping. Gossip is forbidden. King Albert of Belgium recently visited the Pope. Nobdy in Rome knew it. Even Belgians heard of it only after the King’s return home. For the courtiers who ushered him to the throne room, noble guards on duty there, gendarmes who formed the escort of honour, Swiss Guards who did sentry, kept silent. They had been told the visit was “incognito.” Discipline is strict in this State. There are Don’t attempt to stay after eleven o’clock at night, or enter before six o’clock in the morning. Don’t take food in. Its sale is the Pope’s monopoly, its importation and exportation is a penal offence, punishable with fines, and for hardened offenders imprisonment in the State gaol. This because his Holiness retails food to his citizens at cost price and cheaper than in Rome. Don’t try to open a shop or office. Don’t try to find a night’s lodging. Even citizens may not let rooms to fellow-citizens without written permits from Count Serafini, the Governor, for there is not much space in these fourteen acres with a thousand halls, chapels, apartments. Neither bars, dancing halls nor theatres exist in the Papal State, Fines for Offenders. The Pope is strict about education. Parents who fail to send their children to school regularly are fined up to £6, and liable to not more than ten days in the State gaol fo> a third offence. Fines and imprisonment await unlicensed tourist guides, souvenir hawkers, beggars. The total population is 518, including two babies born since the Lateran Pact was signed. Eleven nationalities go to this total, including 389 Italians, a dozen Frenchmen, then Dutchmen, Austrians, Norwegians, Belgians, and ope young native of Ethiopia, who is preparing for baptism* With all his unbounded authority, the Pope is a lonely man. Nobody may talk to him on terms of equality, and he confides in no one. Strangely enough, he is hemmed in by an elaborate code of unwritten laws, immovable as those of the Medes and Persians, and almost as ancient. One of them forbids him to si* down to a meal with another human being. He must breakfast, dine and sup all alone.