CORONATION OF POPE PIUS

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 996, 15 September 1903, Page 2

CORONATION OF POPE PIUS

SPLENDID CELEBRATION OF MOST SOLEMN RITE.

(Per R.M.S. Sierra at Auckland.;? San Francisco, Aug. 27. A description of the ceremony of tha coronation of Popo Pius X., which took place on August 9th shows thut it was a splendid celebration of tho most solemn rite of tho Catholic Church. As Cardinal Macchi, dean of tho cardinal deacons, placed the triple crown on the hoad of the venerable pontiff, the throng of 70,000 people gathered within tho cathedral burst into unrestrained acclamations. The choir intoned a hymn of triumph, and the bells of Rome rang out joyfully. It is fifty-seven years since Romans and Europe assisted at such a function as this. The great Basilica, popularly supposed never to have been quite full, was overflowing with humanity. Tho papal throne, a bewildering mixture of gold, red, and silver, was erected in front of tho high altar. All available standing room in the cathedral was divided into seotions by wooden barriers, lioopiug tho Vast crowd . in the semblance of order. An enormous crowd gathered about tho doors of tho cathedral early in the morning. Police and soldiers had difficulty in preserving order when tho doors were opened. The inrush was terrible, many persons being lifted from thoir feet at the bottom of the steps, and carried into tho Cathedral. Inside tho Vatican also thoro was great excitement. As 500 persons formed a papal procession, the Popo seemed the only tranquil one among the multitude. Ho roso unusually early, and strolled in the Vatican gardens. Then ho allowed himself to be dressed by Cardinals. He evinced no nervousness, even saying jokingly to the Master of Ceremonies, who recontly suggested that ho should use tho plural form in speaking of himsolf, “ Wo fool very well this morning, but we may be different on returning from our Coronation.” Just boforo entering the sedia gostatoria ho asked for his spectacles, and when the Master of Coromonies discreetly answored that His Holiness would look hotter without them, bo said, •* I bavo no desire to ap. pear what I am . not,” and ho wore glasses. Duiiug tho ceremony the triple crown was plaood on the Pope’s hoad by the senior Cardinal, Deacon Macchi. Then the Church was filled with tho sounds of ringing bells, trumpots, and tho strains of the choir, and the acclamations of the multitude. When quiot was restorod Macchi addressed the Pope in Latiu as follows : *• liecrive tho tiara ornament with three crowns ; remember thou art ibe fatkor of princes and kings, tho rector of the world, the vicar on earth of Our Saviour Jesus Christ." Tho ordeal through which tho Popo had to pass was a terrible one, and ho was almost prostratod by it. In tho evening ho B.tid to tho Duke of Parma, “ Not couuting the olection, to-day was tho most tremondous experience of my life. I must find some way of stoppiug the noise in tho Church. It is an offence against religion.”