The Pope at St. Peter's

Manawatu Herald, 10 June 1899, Page 2

The Pope at St. Peter's

A STRIKING SCENE. «* The Pope on Sunday, April ' 16th, .Handed the thanksgiving Maaa which should have been celebrated >n the anniversary of his coronation in March. The great church was filed in overflowing, and the heat was co great that women and children fainted. A.fe ten o'clock the purple nik curtains were drawn back, and from the gallery of the basilica the trumpets announced the coming of his Holiness seated on the golden •jhair. H^> was borne on "high over ',he heada of the people from whom their aioae a great cry of welcome. Then, while ab3olue silence reigned, rhe same chair came into view, as if floating towards the altar, with the Pope sitting like some pale shadow, "Like a ghost," many whispered, wb a n the face, overshadowed by the flittering triple crown, became discernible, with the dark eyes peering from their deep sosketa. The hand 3 trembled visibly, and F fti4as smile olayed round bis colourlea* lip?. With hi 3 left hand the Pope waved sad greetings, while his rfg&t-^id its feeble hpst to mark the act of- bless* ing. When the chair arrived under he cathedral, two member* of the Sacred College helped the *\ipe out md supported him on his way to the throne. * Before the M*s^began the Sixtine choir sang the An ti phone. The Pope during the oelebration of Ma3s sat with folded hands. Twice he rose, and was supported while ha knelt in prayer. When Mass was over Cirdinal Mrtz'lla left the altar, kndt before the throne, and kissed the Fisher's Ring. Monsignor Enroll' then phced the crown on the Pope's bead again, and he was lifted '■n a cb'air, - and rained high,; His Holiness then put on his glasses, and from the niissal, which Cardinal Steinhuber held while Cardinal Macchi stood with a lighted, tap^r, he read the greater Benediction. Bis voice, that, . w. as ,onco so^ firm and clear, was scarcely audtbt§'.* fe He tried to raise himself but feU and pronopffifecpbr^^i&fonln a re(jombentpofiitionv • 'A. Ibud^ory, like the bursting of a storm, broke from the multitude, and the Pope, stretch* in? nut his hand in Benediction, was carried out of St. Peter's.