POPES JUBILEE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 323, 14 January 1909, Page 4

POPES JUBILEE

50,000 WORSHIPPERS IX ST. PETER'S. STLLRING CEREMONIES. Rome, November 10. The Pope to-day celebrated the golden jubilee of his priesthood. The ceremony in St. Peter's was the most splendid and most stirring Rome has seen during the pontilicate of Pius X.

As early as 7 o'clock this juoniiiur, although the weather was dull and cold, a dense crowd gathered in the •riuare before St. Peter's, and the strets leadin«r thither were packed with cabs, carriages, and motor cars. The piaz/a was lined L>\l to companies of gendarmes and bersaglicri. At 8 o'clock the doors of the basilica swung open, llall an hour jater the basilica was filled with 50,000 people. The Pope entered from the Capclla della Pieta at half-past !», borne upon the sedia gestatoria (the special chair borne through the cathedral when the Poatill' visits it). Holiness walked the Mag cortege of the Papal Court- the Swiss "Uuards in steel cuirasses, the Noble (•uard*, the Chamberlains of the Cape,} and attendants in Spanish costume, of 'tlie time of Phillip 11., hairing the sword of State. Then followed the representatives of the religious orders and I;i long train of bishops wearing the j mitre and clad iu white chasubles. Tile i members of the College of Cardinals ! brought up the rear. ! From the height of the sedia gesta- ! toria the Pope blessed the kneeling congregation. When in; had been borne to ;he altar in tile centre of the basilica the Pope descended from his seat and took his place upon the throne. Here the Pontill' received the obeisances of, the cardinals, who eanre in turn to kiss his hand. At this moment the scene was of incomparable splendor. In the pews erected round the altar were the special envoys of the Kings and Emperors, the ordinary Diplomatic Corps of the Vatican. and the representatives of the ancient Human families, such as the Orsini Coloima, Barberini, and Huspoli. By the sides of these were the Knights of -Malta, the (Jrand Duke Alexander of , Kussia, and the Clrand Duchess Xenia 1 (sister of the C'zar) with their seven children, and the Princess "Mathilde, sister of the King of Saxony.

A little stand in which sat the brother, the two sisters, and tin- niece of the "Pope, who is of humble family, was also a centre of attraction. The Pontiffs relatives -were moderately dressed, iI is sisters wept tears of joy as the ceremony proceeded. Celebration of the Papal .Mass began at 10 o'clock. At- t.Jie moment of the elevation of the host trumpets of silver sonndm from the misty heights of the dome, and a thrill of religions 'exaltation passed through the vast congregation.

The Mas* over, the Pope look his senf again upon the sedia gestatoria. and in a lond. ch'ar voice uttered the Apostolic benediction. His Holiness then relumed to the Vatican, followed by the Papal cortege in the same order as before. This evening at 7 o'clock all the bells in Koine's 500 churches were rung for nn hour. The buildings in fTie vicinity of the Vatican and the facade and topmost cross of St. Veter's were brilliantly illuminated. a vast crowd thronging the great piazza (<» enjoy the spectacle. Among the Ihitish representatives at the ceremony were Kdmnnd Stoner, John Vaughan, .lolnr Prior. Robert Fraser. Ihe Catholic Uishops of 'ilirminsJiam, Nottingham. Gilford. Xorfhanipton, and "Portsmouth, and Sir Thomas Gsmonde, who is one of the Pope's private chamberlains.