Pope May Visit England

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 583, 8 February 1929, Page 1

Pope May Visit England

RIGHTS OF NEW “VATICAN CITY ” Reviving Scenes of Pomp and Splendour (United P. 4 Telegraph—Copyright j (Australian and K.Z. Press Association i „ (United Service) Reed. 1.21 p.m. ROME. Thursday. FE Pope has telegraphed to the Papal Xunoios announcing that an agreement has been reached with the Italian Government, which will be signed at the Lateran Palace on Sunday by Cardinal Gasparri, Secretary of State and the Prime Minister, Signor Mussolini.

rpHE new Papal State will be called Vatican City, and the Vatican will have the right to maintain a railway station, a telegraph office, an airdrome and a wireless station. It will also be allowed to mint its own money, issue bank notes and postage stamps, and have other rights of an independent sovereign State. Offences committed in Vatican territory will be tried in the Italian Courts. The Italian Government has increased the money indemnity from one to two billion lire (from £11,000,000 to £22,000,000), of which one billion is payable immediately. The application of canon law is a new experiment that has never been tried in a modern State, and the result will be watched with keen interest throughout the world. As soon as the agreement is signed the King of Italy will pay a state visit to the Pope. The latter will celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s in honour of the Italian Royal Family, and will then formally call on the King at the Royal Palace. In consequence of the new regime diplomats attached to the Vatican will take up their residence within Vatican territory. The Pope has desired i the agreement most keenly, in order to resume the Aecumenical Council, which was suspended 60 years ago, when it was Interrupted, first by the Franco-Prussian War, and then by Garibaldi’s march on Rome. The Pope will most probably under-

take an extensive tour of his diocese. It is practically certain that he will visit England. His emergence from the Vatican* is expected to revive the scenes of mediaeval splendour, which were seen

before 1870, when the Pope travelled along the Appian Way w ith his magnificent cortege, flanked on either side by picturesquely uniformed Swiss Guards and cavalry and accompanied by his cardinals.