THE PAPAL RAILWAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 146, 23 June 1931, Page 12

THE PAPAL RAILWAY

HALF A MILE IN LENGTH. I lie \ alican railway is nearing completion. With its inauguration the Pope may lease his miniature sovereign Stale, that, walled city set. in the heart of Rome, and travel without setting foot upon Italian soil. The rail way measures 300 ft. from the start through the tunnel until it links with the .Italian State Railway j U st. outside St. Peter’s Station on the Rome-Viter-bo line. In order to construct the shortest railway line in the world, the ancient Vatican city wall w s pierced, houses were demolished in Roman territory, and an eight-arched viaduct had to be built over the Gelsomina Valley and the, Via Aurelia, a busy thoroughfare on the Italian side of the Roman-Vai! van frontier. i’he Vatican station, which, like the

railway is for the exclusive use of the I ope, high y-burch dignitaries, ami Koyal visitors, is in armoured cement, and of the simplest design. It is ISOfu long, ami has a private waiting room for the Pope. There is great doubt as to ihe Pope's <‘\er taking advantage of his railway, us a journey nowadays would entail a great deal of police protection. xlso, there, is a tradition that the more tho 1 ope stays at home the greater is prestige.