VERY BUSY POPE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1933, Page 8

VERY BUSY POPE

GREAT STRAIN OF HOLY YEAR

30,000 PILGRIMS IN AUGUST

A report issued a few weeks ago states that the Pope received 80,C0J pilgrims, divided into 126 groups, 50 per cent of whom came from abroad, in August. The Rome correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that this fact may not at first glance appear unusually impressive, jet it has gh-en rise to n. wide spread fear among the people of Rome that the Pc-pe may break clown ia health under the terrific strain of his Holy Year duties.

For the Pope reached the age of 73 last May, and during August the temperature there has frequently been higher than 100 degrees 'in the shade. Moreover, the reception of the pilgrims has entailed heavy duties. These consist in delivering 126 addresses, in each of which he ailudod particularly to the social, regional or national sphere from which each group came; often speaking in French, German or Latin ; having his ring kissed by the great majority of tlie 30,000 pilgrims; receiving thousands of honeymoon couples and del verjr.g separate addresses to them; and •giving the Apcst-olic blessing many times a day.

Newly-wedded couples have been going to Rome in their thousands as a result of the 80 per cent reduction of " fares on State R ailyays, and theoffer of free ’bus an,cl tram rides, and free entrance to museums and monuments in Rome for a week. When the movement was started by Signor Mussolini, the Pope said he would enoo'irage it by. giving honeymoon couples -audiences apart from the other pilgrims.

Eleven out of the 30 pilgrimages made since the Holy Year began last. 'April came from England. The Pope lias expressed his pleasure at receiving so many English pilgrims, who, he said u'ere particularly clear to his heart. On one occasion he said that it had caused him to hope that before long .England and Rome would be as a united flock under one shepherd.

The Pope lias rot lire! a holiday since February, 1922, when he was was elected. In summer he works almost as hard as in winter, although the climate of Rome is such that the city is amost emptied during the hot weather. In winter the Pope rises daily at six a.m., and even earlier in' the summer. Yet one may walk any night In St Peter’s-square .and see the solitary light in his library window burning ltiug after midnight. The coriespo-ndent Says: “It is au extraordinarv fact that kis health is better to-day than :t wav three j-ears ago, whr-n it gave cause for considerable anxiety. But ho has taken no waters, frequented no health resorts.

:•> “The powers of resistance of the Pope may be attributed to his mountaineering in youth and middle age, li'is strong will, h's extreme frugality His principal daily meal, which he seldom 1 takes before two p.m., consists of. fish or meat, vegetabes, and fruit. Unlike most Italians, he rarelj’ takes wine.

.!■' ‘The' Pope’s evening meal is even simpler. Tn obedience to an unwritten law of the Vatican, he takes all his brents alone. Sometimes lie listens in on the wireless, instead of reading after his evening meal, but part of h:s time 5«? a'wt-vs spent in prayer and meditation.”