FUNERAL RITES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1939, Page 5

FUNERAL RITES

BODY OF LATE POPE LYING IN STATE Time-Honoured Ceremonial at Vatican IMMENSE CROWDS GATHER AT BASILICA . By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. VATICAN CITY, February 11. The first funeral rites of Pope Pius XI were begun as dawn broke in Rome on Friday. After the cardinals had proceeded in file to the bedside and kissed the hand of the Pope, the prefect of ceremonies, Monsignor Respighi, dressed the Pope in his pontifical robes. Then the Pope’s body, dressed in full ceremonial white robes, the head being covered with a white skull cap on which the high pontifical mitre was placed, was laid on a stretcher wrapped in black and gold cloth and slowly carried downstairs to the throne room, and thence to the Vatican Basilica of Saint Peter. The guard took up watch with drawn swords. Funeral hangings had supplanted the triumphant decorations for celebrating the tenth anniversary of the concordat tomorrow. Immense crowds gathered in front of the basilica, including students from international pontifical universities. The body was then taken to the Sistene Chapel by four Noble guards whose steel corselets were veiled with crepe. The Diplomatic Corps followed, the procession taking.4o minutes to enter the chapel. The procession was led by a. sergeant of the Swiss Guards wearing a mediaeval blue and yellow uniform, and carrying a huge halberd. There were grooms wearing scarlet, prelates in black, and Palatine Guards in blue and purple.

The body was placed on a catafalque surrounded by 12 lighted candles. On the head was the golden mitre, and on the breast a silver cross shot with gold. A cape covered the body to the knees, and. underneath was the linen surplice of fine lace.

Two members of the Noble Guard in red full dress uniform stood at the head of the bier, their swords drawn and grounded. Next was the clerical chamberlain in violet robes and the lay chamberlain in a black Spanish costume, with a gold chain. The recitation of the office of the dead in an undertone by penitentiaries of St Peter’s was the only sound that broke the solemn silence in the dimlylit chapel.

The Popes body was removed from the Sistine Chapel today to Saint Peter’s, escorted by another brilliant procession. The bier was placed before the Altar of Confession immediately under the dome. Consignor Pietro Pizzani conducted the service. The body, after being blessed, was carried to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, where it was surrounded by 16 torchbearers.

The fii’st contingent of Rome’s hundreds of thousands of faithful filed past the sloping catafalque amid choral music and kissed the Pontiff’s feet, but the rush was so great that after a quarter of an hour the doors were closed. The burial of the Pope is expected to take place on February 13 or 14. The exact date, to be decided at the meeting of cardinals, will depend on the arrival of the foreigners. VERIFICATION OF D'EATH. CARDINALS TO MEET DAILY. VATICAN CITY. February 11. Soon after the Pope’s death was announced. dignitaries assembled for the ceremony of verification. Taking a small hammer, Cardinal Pacclli, Secretary of State, lifted the veil and. struck his Holiness three times gently on the forehead, repeating each time his Christian name, Achille, and pausing for an answer. ■ He then turned to the dignitaries and said in Latin: “Truly, the Pope is dead.” None of the Pope’s family were present. The Sacred College of Cardinals will meet daily at 10 a.m. for the next 20 days (the “open seat” period) thus permitting time for the Cardinals to come from all over the world to select the new Pope. In addition to Cardinal Schuster, of Milan, Cardinal Pacelli, Cardinal Tedeschini, noted ' diplomatists, Cardinal Dellacosta, and Cardinal Lavitrano, who are reputed to be less interested in politics, are mentioned as possible successors. LATE PONTIFF’S PLEA. DESIRE TO BE PRESENT AT anniversary: ROME. February 12. Professor Bianchi, the heart specialist, who attended the Pope, disclosed today that the Pope was recovering from his heart attack on February 8 and pleaded to be kept alive till at least after today's'ceremonies in celebration of the seventeenth anniversary of his coronation, adding: “I dearly wish to be present, even if I am unable to participate actively.” GOING TO ROME CARDINAL HINSLEY DEPARTS. MR CHAMBERLAIN’S TRIBUTE TO POPE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 11. Cardinal Hinsley, Archbishop of Westminster, leaves London tomorrow for Rome to take part in the funeral ceermonies and to attend the conclave of cardinals for the election of a Pope. The Apostolic Delegate to the United

Kingdom, Monsignor Godfrey, arrived at London last night from Rome. He said when he saw the Pope only a few days ago his Holiness expressed pleasure with what Mr Chamberlain had said of him in the House of Commons. On that occasion Mr Chamberlain told a silent House how deeply he had been affected by the Pope's words and by the courage and humanity which animated his bearing and outlook. BURIAL TOMORROW MEETING OF THE ELECTION CONCLAVE. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) VATICAN CITY. February 12. It is officially announced that the burial of the Pope will take place on Tuesday, and that the election conclave will meeting between February 26 and Marvli 1.

■I A GREAT POPE I — MONSIGNOR PANICO'S TESTIMONY. SYDNEY, February 11. In a tribute to the Pope the Apostolic delegate, Monsignor Panico, broadcasting last night, said that Piux XI recalled the greatest Popes in history. In his understanding of diplomatic movements, which were often very complex, and in his knowledge of social questions, he recalled Pope Leo XIII. In his tremendous activity and the erection of monuments, he was like Sixtus V. In his ardour and passion while defending the rights of the Church when it was assailed or downtrodden, he made one think of Pope Gregory XII. NEW ZEALAND SYMPATHY. PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The following message has been forwarded to the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand by the I Prime Minister; the Rt Hon M. J. Savage.

“I desire on behalf of the Government of New Zealand to express their sympathy and mine with your Grace and the people of the Roman Catholic Church on the death of his Holiness Pope Pius XI. His' life was a high example of devoted service in the promotion of moral principles and in the cause of peace among nations. “During a reign unexampled for turbulence of economic difficulties his Holiness was steadfast in his belief in the cause of Christian justice and the social welfare of the people. His physical courage and undaunted spirit in the face of failing health and world disorder will sustain Christian people in their faith and will console Catholics everywhere in their bereavement in the loss of a great leader.”

The Prime Minister has also forwarded through the Governor-General to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs for transmission to-the Vatican a message expressing the profound regret of the Government and people of New Zealand on the death of the Pope. The message continues as follow:— “The untiring efforts of his Holiness in the cause of peace and justice and his courageous devotion to duty, despite his failing health, have won the grateful admiration of the whole world, and the passing of his Holiness will be deeply mourned in this Dominion.” A JEWISH TRIBUTE. Supplementing the message of sympathy forwarded to the administrator of the archdiocese of Wellington on behalf of the Jewish community, the Rev S. Kantor, at the Synagogue in Wellington on Saturday morning, referred to the death of his Holiness, Pope Pius XI.

"By his passing the world has been deprived of one of its most ardent workers for peace,” said Mr Kantor. "His passionate love for his fellow-men gave him the courage to speak when others found it convenient to be silent.

“We Jews are very grateful for the stand which he and his followers took up on behalf of our oppressed brethren. His stirring utterances on condemnation of religious intolerance and racial persecution have secured for him a place of honour in the hearts of Jewry all over the world.”

I REQUIEM MASS CEREMONY IN WELLINGTON THIS WEEK. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. It was announced yesterday that the official Requiem Mass in connection with the death of the Pope will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday in the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street, Wellington. The Mass will be celebrated by Monsignor T. F. Connolly and the sermon will be delivered by the Rev Father Spillane, Superior of the Marist Missions. Brief reference to the life and services of Pope Pius XI. wore made in all the Catholic churches in Wellington yesterday.