RECEPTION OF BRITISH. PILGRIMS BY THE POPE. Significant Reference to Ireland.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 248, 21 March 1888, Page 4

RECEPTION OF BRITISH. PILGRIMS BY THE POPE. Significant Reference to Ireland.

Tub Popo lately received the live hundred British pilgrims %\ho were pi evented to his Holiness by the Duke of Norfolk. The pilgrims were accompanied by all the students of the British Catholic colleges in Rome. The reception was held in the Sala Dueale of the Vatican, tho I'upe being accompanied by sevcial Cardinals, und attended by the members of the Pannl Cumt. Jlis Holiness on cntciing the nail was received with enthusiastic acclamation!-. After silence had been restored the Duke of Norfolk load the address of the BiitUh Catholics, allirining their great de\otion to tho Pope, and dwelling upon the remarkable progress of Catholicism in England, " whose sont-,"' continued the addiess, "following the example of their Queen, de.-iird on the occasion of tho saceidotal jubilee of the Pope to testify their veneration for his Holiness." The Lope, Mho lcplied in French, expressed himself deeply seiwblt, of such proofs of attachment from the British Catholics, for whom lie entertained a very special aflection. HLs Holiness pioceeded to say that he felt veiy gtateful to the Queen, and proyod for her prosperity and that of a nation whom he loved and admiied. He prayed also for the restoration of peace between the clitlcrent paits of the Kingdom. He hoped that iiritating questions would be set aside, and that reason and equity would tak^ their place. These concluding 1 passages of his Holiness's reply were regarded as manifestly lefening to Ireland. The Pope afterwards imparted the Papal benediction to all present, and on leaving the hall received a second ovation from the pilgrims. The "Times'' correspondent at Home Baj-s:— "The Pilgrims offered the Pope £14,000, and among other gifts is a library of 1,500 English Catholic books superbly bound. The Pope asked information as to the English educational system and requested the Bishops to send him reports thereon. A translation of the letter of the Bishop of Limerick, with comments by two English Bishops, has been handed in to the Propaganda and seems to have attracted seriou.s attention. His Holiness received the editor of the "Tablet" with particular interest.