AMERICAN PILGRIMS IN ROME.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 72, 24 August 1874, Page 3

AMERICAN PILGRIMS IN ROME.

The Dally News publishes the following telegrams : Eomk, June 9, The remaining American pilgrims arrived here yesterday from Civita Vecchia, Some harmless demonstrations against thetn were made there, the people shouting. "Longlive united Italy." Here the pilgrims excite little curiosity. One third an; priests. The Pope not being well enough to receive them yesterday, they amused themselves by seeing the sights of Rome. They were, however, informed in the course of the evening that his Holiness would receive them to-day. This morning accordingly they all proceeded to the Vatican, accompanied by the members of the American College. The Pope received the pilgrims, who wore the emblem of the Sacred Heart, in the Great. Hall of the Consistory. His Holiness was surrounded by the cardinals, the guards, various prelates, and the Archbishop of Paris. He made efforts to keep up, but his face bore traces of suffering. Bishop Dwcngcr, one of the pilgrims, read a long address in Latin. Mgr Thoard, of New Orleans, read an address in French. The Pope then rose and addressed (he pilgrims in the latter language. He said their presence was a manifestation of the great triumphs of the church, which, notwithstanding her persecutions, advanced rapidly all over the world. American fidelity might teach a lesson to ambitious usurpers who, nearer the Holy Hoe, combated the church.

The Pope thou spoke at length of the profound gratitude he owed to the shepherds of the church in distant countries who came to witness the miserable condition to which the Vicar of Christ was reduced. He concluded by giving his blessing to the American pilgrims and to the American nation.

The pilgrims Mien presented to his Holiness considerable, sums of money and various presents. Amoug the latter was a wallsingeane wit li a yold handle 'J')"' cane wan filled with gold coins—the donations of

negroes. In return, the Pope presented the pilgrims with medals. The speeches of some of the pilgrims were rather violent. The Pope afterwards walked along the hall and conversed with several of the pilgrims, who appeared in a state of almost stupefied astonishment at the grandeur of the Papal Conn. The following is another account of the proceedings : ROME, June '.). The Bishops Dwengor and Thcard waited upon Cardinal Antouelliyesterday,to express th" voaj great desire of all the American pilgrim* to pay a visit to the Pope. They wore consequently received by his Holiness at noon to-day, together with some American Catholics residing in Rome, the total number present being about 200. Several cardinals, prelates, and distinguished Roman personages attended the audience. Mgr Dwenger addressed the following speech to the T'ope : — ;; You see at your feet "sons of yours from the West. At this period of your affliction they have dreaded neither sea nor distance in their endeavor to ece the Father of a\l the Faithful, the Pontiff most exalted by his labors, persecutions, and patience, his hope and faith in God. We wished to see your Holiness, and the distance to be traversed increased rather than diminished our desire. Though abandoned by the princes of the earth and reduced to prison, we have not abandoned you. We have come to proclaim before the whole world our devotion to you, the infallible pastor of the church, the centre of the unity of our faith. This is the long wished-for day when we can see you and receive your blessing, not only for ourselves, but for all those who cannot be present, and who at a distance pray to God with tears for you in your prison. They, as well as ourselves, loving honesty and civil liberty, condemn with all their heart the tyrannical persecution of the church by those braggarts of a false liberty who arc estranged from God." Mgr. Thcard then read an address in French, expressing the devotion of the pilgrims and all American Catholics. The Pope replied —"Amid the darkness of the world this is a ray of light. The enemies of the church are numerous, but great con solations reach me from the old and new world, where the true faith has been so marvellously developed that it has been necessary to increase the number of dioceses. Still a great part of the Continent remains occupied by falsi; religions, and yon must pray to God to bring all back to the true faith."

The Pope afterwards descended from his throne aud passed before the pilgrims, giving them his hand to kiss. They presented offerings to his Holiness ; the Rev Mr Mendler in the name of his black parishioners, presented a stick filled with gold coins. The Pope blessed many objects of devotion borne by the pilgrims. An album will shortly be transmitted to his Holiness containing the signatures and address of all those who came from America. The pilgrims have decided to visit the Seven Basilicas; on Thursday the Pope will give them the Communion. They will afterwards go to Abato, Frascati, and Tivoli. It is not true they met with a hostile demonstration at Civita Vecchia.