FUNERAL OF POPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 39, 16 February 1939, Page 7

FUNERAL OF POPE

SOMBRE RITUAL TOMB IN VATICAN CRYPT SCENE AT ST. PETER’S ißy Telegraph— Association— ROME, Feb. 14. With sombre ritual, the body of Pope Pius XI was entumbod in the crypt of the Vatican between the collin of Pius X and the coflins of three Stuart Princes, including that of Ronnie Prince Charlie. The great beli of St. Peter's tolled while canons bearing flaming torches, a choir intoning the "Miserere," and violet-robed cardinals and bishops marched in procession along the nave between Papal Guards, with the body of the Pope borne on a litter to the altar beneath the seat of St. Peter. Here, in the chapel lighted by a hundred candles and two immense braziers, absolution was pronounced. The cardinals and bishops and the Pope’s relatives kissed the Pope’s feet. The body was then laid by Noble Guards in a coffin of cypress wood. A major-domo covered the body with a red silk veil, and a prelate read a Latin summary of the Pope's life from a parchment which was placed in the coffin, which was closed ana sealed and placed in a second lead coffin. This was sealed and placed in a coffin of polished elm, which was borne to its position in the vaults, where the choir again sang the "Miserere.” Then all departed while the hymn of rejoicing and praise "In Paradisum” was sung. Only one prelate was left to pray, and then silence fell in the cast Basilica which will not be broken until the entry of the new Pope.

ELOQUENT TRIBUTE

PONTIFICAL REQUIEM MASS IN AUCKLAND [ Per Prcbs Association.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 15. “May the welcome of God and the light of heaven be now the reward of the soul of Pius Xl.”—With these moving words the Bishop of Auckland, Rt. Rev. J. M. Liston, began his sermon in St. Patrick’s Cathedral during the observance of Pontifical Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of the late Pope. There was a huge attendance. In the course of an impressive tribute, Bishop Liston said: “Volumes will be written about the seventeen years of Pius XI. and his activities and achievements. History will speak of him as the Pope of Peace, the herald of the reign of Christ in the world. The crusader, maybe the greatest of all time, for the Catholic missions to pagan lands, the indefatigable promoter of the Catholic layman's apostolate, the patron of studies of the art and science, the Pope who, by solving the Roman question, has opened up the way for the spiritual mission of the church, both in Italy and throughout the world. “With a master’s hand he defined the constitution of the States, the ideals of family and Christian education of the young. He has sustained and encouraged his own Catholic children, has been the intrepid defender of the faith and of the rights of man in the days when the State in some lands is placing itself above God and crushing the soul of man. Yet his chief claim to greatness, it seems to me, lies in this: That whilst he has asserted and expounded the rights of God in a world so largely estranged from Him, he has thought with concern and love of the ordinary man, who is oppressed by the great evils of the injustice of war and fear of war. These evils he has described with clearness* and just as clearly set forth remedies for them. It is difficult, not to say impossible, for peace to endure between nations if, instead of true love of country, there is found a spirit of hard nationalism. That is competition instead of co-operation, greedy ambition instead of respect for the rights of all, especially of the weak. “We beg the leaders of the nations to govern in justice and charity, not for destruction, and to remember that there is no power but from God. Pope Pius has been our spiritual father and this is a family sorrow, but he has taken to his heart the whole world of men and streams of their admiration and affection have flowed into him. May his brave, noble, fatherly, priestly soul rest in peace and plead with God for the world’s peace.”

REQUIEM SERVICES PONTIFICAL MASS IN SYDNEY WELLINGTON OBSERVANCES [Per ficsa Association. I WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. Pontifical Requiem Mass will be offered for the repose of the soul of Pope Pius XI. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate to Australia and New Zealand, Monsignor Panico, will be the celebrant. The official R-quiem Mixj will be sung at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Wellington, at 10 o’clock to-morrow morning. The Mjs will be open to the public. Monsignor T. F. Connolly will be the celeb-'cnt and the other officiants will be as follows: Deacon, Father Joyce, S.M.; • übdeacon, Father Wallace, C.S.S.R.; master of ceremonies, Father Robinson. The sermon will b? preached by Father Spillane. Masses have been sung this week in a number of Catholic schoo’.s in Wellington City and suburbs.

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