POPE RECEIVES PILGRIMS FROM LATVIA

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 35, 16 September 1925, Page 27

POPE RECEIVES PILGRIMS FROM LATVIA

The Holy Father received recently in the Hall of Consistory thq> pilgrimage from Latvia consisting of about three score persons, sixteen of whom were prelates and priests. The Holy Father greeted the pilgrims effusively and distributed the Jubilee Medal |$ to each one. He then addressed them in the German tongue. His Holiness (began by saying that he was very happy to see a group'of distinct representatives of far away Lat-I via, a, people whom he had the pleasure of 1 knowing and appreciating when he exercised the office of Apostolic Visitor. The Holy 1 Father also spoke of the beauty of the citiesSj and towns of their country, as he remem- > bered them from intimate acquaintance. §S| His satisfaction, continued the Pontiff,! was heightened considerably by the recollec- 1 tion of the long and inconvenient journey which these pilgrims had made to come to him, giving a lively sign of their fervent faith in desiring to obtain the spiritual trea- ; sures of the Holy Year, and to visit the Common Father of all the faithful. , ; ■ ■- *' ■' *' Soil of Martyrs. ''sM The pilgrims from Latvia, said the Holy v Father, should be deeply moved upon treading the sacred soil of Rome, dyed with the : . Blood of Martyrs, and consecrated by so many heroes of sanctity, and in feeling themselves so near to the Vicar of Jesus Christ in whom the power of St. Peter still lived. Even here, in Rome, there were testimonials,beautiful and eloquent, to the pristine attachment of their people to the Apostolic Chair. - . "V Without doubt this exemplary faith of the Catholics of Latvia would be strengthened by y&ats paid to the grand churches andmoniiments of Christianity with which, the Eternal City was dotted, so that they would£carry- 'back to their country as abundant: fruits of sanctification as their propositions were' 'generous. •:'" "We are especially glad," said Pope Pius;•to see at your head Our Apostolic Delegate, M,gr. Zecchini. This demonstrates your affectionate deference toward the Representative of the Holy See and of the Pope in those regions and your filial devotion through it toward the same Holy See and the Vicar of Jesus Christ, because, as is just, We receive as done to Ourselves what is done for Our Representatives." ,-• . m v ' The Holy Father finally invited has beloved pilgrims to preserve the medal which he had distributed .to them as a; perennial remembrance of His affection for their country and of their pilgrimage to Rome during the Holy, Year. '•.'/% ; JW'" v ■•■■;* r Pope Pius then bestowed the Papal Blessing upon all present, and blessed also their distant country,, their" families, affections, all their 'works and intentions. ;i |p #J|f His Holiness paused to listen to the ; sacred hymn sung in their native tongue by the 'pilgrims,s(before entering his private aparU ments./ ,^. s :.'.-:'f. ';• \ ■.."•_'.'..•';.':'■■•'''■•*.■-. -?■"- "Not a thing broken or even scratched" is a tribute to the care and skill of our packers. You are assured of a like satisfactory service. The " : New Zealand Express Company, Ltd. ;