CORONATION OF POPE PIUS XII

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 144, 14 March 1939, Page 9

CORONATION OF POPE PIUS XII

Impressive Moment On Balcony Of St. Peter s HUGE CROWD’S WILD ENTHUSIASM Cardinals, Archbishops And Bishops Fay Homage (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) VATICAN CITY, March 12. “Holy father, receive this tiara with three crowns. Know that thou art the father of princes _ and kings throughout the world, vicar of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, to Whom is glory and honour throughout the ages.” Chanting these ancient words the Dean of the Saci ed College of Cardinals slowly placed the triple gold crown of St. Peter on the head of Pope Pius XII on the balcony of St. Peter’s this morning before a crowd estimated at 750,000. The coronation ceremonies, to which this solemn act was the climax, began at 8.30 a.m. The Pope was escorted to the vestment hall, where he was greeted by the College of Cardinals. There he donned his vestments, comprising a stole, a short red and gold mantle, and a mitre. Ten thousand Italian troopers patrolled the streets leading to St. Peter’s Square before dawn and prevented those who did not hold tickets from entering the square before the 50,000 ticket-holders. Tickets inscribed “Gratis” were selling for £lO each. Then, seated in the Chair of State, the Pope was carried into the Basilica and the spectators’ cheers, applause and shouts of “Long live the Pope” almost drowned the'singing of the choir.

With his hand upraised in blessing, and smiling benignly on the cheering crowd, the Pope passed up the church and sat on the white throne. The cardinals, archbishops, and bishops paid homage, and then High Mass was celebrated, the Pope taking the Holy Eucharist while standing, not kneeling, as is customary. Silver trumpets rang out as the Pope performed the act of consecration, using, the golden chalice which his predecessor used daily and bequeathed to him.

At the end of the Mass the Archpriest of St. Peter’s presented to the Pontiff a white purse containing 25 gold coins, “the usual offering for this well-sung Mass.” There was thunderous applause and an almost delirious manifestation of loyalty from the congregation of 60,000 within the Basilica as the glittering procession reformed and the Pope, mounted on a chair, was borne down the nave. He sat motionless, with upraised right hand. The procession disappeared into the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The gates of the Basilica were reopened, and the congregation streamed out into the square and joined those who were waiting to watch the actual coronation on the balcony.

A fanfare of trumpets sounded as the Pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s. He slowly climbed the throne and reverently placed the mitre in tlie hands of tlie Cardinal Deacon. The dean of the Sacred College then placed the crown on his head. After receiving the crown the Pope raised his arms to Heaven three times, gave the sign of the Cross, blessed the kneeling thousands, and granted a plenary indulgence to all who heard and witnessed his coronation. With one voice the crowd cried “Long Live the Pope.” After a minute’s acknowledgment his Holiness left the balcony for the sacristy and the crowd slowly left the square, which returned to its age-old silence. The actual crowning occupied seven minutes. x— Signor Mussolini was absent from the coronation, at which Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister, represented the Government. Herr Hitler was represented by the German Ambassador at the Vatican, Dr. von Bergen.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CEREMONY

Triple Crown As Sign Of Sovereignty The coronation of the Pope does not invest him with authority, because that was has at the moment of his election, said the Bev. Dr. L, T. Buxton, administrator of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Auckland, in describing the proceedings at the crowning of the Pope, The ceremony is’ merely the manifestation of the spiritual and also the temporal sovereignty of the Bishop of Rome. The coronation does not consecrate the Pope, but merely places on his head the emblem of sovereignty, the triple crown or tiara. Of the origin of the tiara little is known except that it is a development of the mitre, said Dr. Buxton. Authorities find it difficult to establish whether it descends from the mitre of the High Priest of Israel, who wore a triple crown, or is a transformation of the Phrygian cap, which was given to Pope Silvester by Constantine, the first Christian emperor, as the symbol of the liberty ot the Church. The three crowns signify, first, the spiritual jurisdiction of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, secondly, his universal jurisdiction over the Church, and thirdly, his temporal sovereignty

Joyfulness and Triumph.

Seen from the interior of St. Peter’s a coronation is a scene of joyfulness and triumph, Dr. Buxton added. The huge square begins to fill at 6 a.m. witli a happy crowd which flows into the Basilica. Tickets of admission are required. These are issued gratis, but applications backed by recomniendailons must lie lodged previously witli ihe major iloino id’ the snored palace/ The murmurs within St. Peter’s nt thio a.m. become thunderous with sffionts of: “The Pope,” “The Pope.” To.the soft .accents of ilia-march by

Longhi, a white-clad form appears at the back of the Basilica. Between the slowly-moving fans of ostrich plumes, the flabelli, the Pope, wearing a large gold mitre and. seated on the sedia gestatorla or portable throne, slowly advances between the thousands of spectators in the nave. He descends in the Chapel of the Choir at the left. Here he receives the submission of the cardinals. After blessing them, the Office of Nome is sung and the Pope is dressed in pontificial garments in preparation for the celebration of the solemn Mass. He is now garbed in white vestments, gloves embroidered in gold, aud a white mitre. Wonder And Admiration. Shortly after 10 a.m. the Pope reappears in the nave on the sedia, and expressions of wonder and admiration 1111 the vast church during this procession. The silver trumpets sound in the celebrated “Triumphal March.” While the Pope is being carried on his throne, an official burns three pieces of tow, then turns to the new Pontiff and repeats the words, “Sanete Pater, sic transit gloria mundi” (Holy Father, so passes the glory of the world). The tow burns out, the sedia is carried to the end of the apse, it is lowered, and the Pope begins a celebration of- the Mass. He officiates in the manner of the bishops of the first Christian centuries, with the hundreds of cardinals and bishops grouped round him. The first cardinal deacon places the pallium, or symbol of authority, on the Pope and recites three prayers for the consecration of bishops in memory of old times, when the elected Pope, who might not be a bishop, received the episcopal consecration on the day of his coronation. The Epistle and Gospel of the Mass are read in Latin and in Greek and the Pope offers the bread and wine and consecrates them at the altar above the resting-place of St. Peter aud St. Paul, and as the Sacred Host is elevated, silence reigns throughout the vast edifice. After the celebration of Mass the coronation takes place and the Pope blesses the assembled multitude.