POPE’S A.R.P. SHELTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1941, Page 6

POPE’S A.R.P. SHELTER

ORDERED WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE. CONNECTED BY ELEVATOR. A super-safe air raid shelter hsjL. been completed for the personal use or * Pope Pius XII, who is reported to have given up hope that the war will end soon. The shelter was ordered to be built, however, by a commission of cardinals, reportedly without the Pope’s knowledge, states the Rome correspondent of the “New York Times.” Designed and built by the architect, Enrico Galeazzi, head of the Vatican’s technical department, the shelter consists of three small rooms, each about 12 feet square, and was said by workmen to be absolutely bombproof. “Over 1,9001 b. of vanadium steel was ordered from the Terni Ironworks and placed over and around the shelter,” Nino Fabrici, one of the workmen, said as he and a companion put the finishing touches on the ■shelter under the watchful eyes of a papal gendarme. The rooms are equipped with special electric heating devices, and although they are a syet unfurnished one will be the Pope’s bedroom, one a private study and the third probably a small kitchen. It was doubted, however, that the kitchen ever would be used, since the Pope fasts from midnight on and recites mass every morning at 6 o’clock. It might be used to accommodate the Pope’s Chamberlain, Giovanni Stefanoni, it was said. The shelter is situated in the courtyard of the Holy Office, chosen because, besides being well protected, it is close to the papal apartment, to which it has been connected by a private elevator. Other Vatican residents will use a natural shelter of great strength provided by the huge Bramante bastion, with massive walls 25 feet thick. It was built by the famous architect, Donato Bramante, who designed St. Peter’s Basilica in the 16th century. It can accommodate comfortably 409 persons. N It was believed that the Pope migh't use his shelter if Rome is raided, but it was recalled that last June, when an air raid alarm sounded here, he rose and dressed, but refused to leave his apartment, where he remained praying. At present Vatican City is darkened at 6.30 p.m. and there is a strict curfew. Only a few dark violet lamps remain lighted after sunset.