Monument to Late Pope Pius X

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 34, 30 August 1923, Page 13

Monument to Late Pope Pius X

HIS "WORK COMMEMORATED. A monument to the memory of the late Pope Pius X. has been unveiled at St. Peter's, Rome. The ceremony, which was simple and touching, was carried out in the presence of Pope Pius XL, representatives of the Sacred College, and Papal household also being present, together 1 ,, with a number of attendant soldiers and a large gathering; of people. ' , The monument is erected in an arch in the eastern nave of the Basilica between two pilasters and depicts Pope Pius in an attitude of prayer, with his arms outstretched. Beneath the huge figure standing on a curved surface are several bronze bas-reliefs illustrating the important actions and good works of the late Pope and commemorating his condemnation of Modernism, his giving of Holy Communion to young children, his reform of Gregorian music, his foundation of a Biblical institute and a new picture gallery in the Vatican and his beneficence to earthquake sufferers. Cardinal Merry de Val made a dedicatory address eulogising the virtues of the late Pontiff and the veneration ■ in which he is already held, saying that little children, poor soldiers and peasants had sent contributions for the erection of the monument, thus expressing the love which they all felt for him. Pope Pius XI., seated on a throne opposite the monument, mentioned the beautiful qualities of Pope Pius and gave the Papal Benediction to the monument while the choir of the Julian Chapel sang Tu es Petrus.' . If you have genius, industry will improve it; if you have none, industry will supply its place.