TRIBUTES TO DEAD PONTIFF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 36, 13 February 1939, Page 7

TRIBUTES TO DEAD PONTIFF

BRILLIANT SCENES IN ROME REMOVAL OF BODY TO ST. PETER’S RUSH TO PASS CATAFALQUE CAUSED DOORS TO BE CLOSED (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) Received Feb. 12. 8.30 p.m. V ATICAN CITY, Feb. 12. The Pope s body was removed from Sistine Chapel to St. Peter s, escorted by a brilliant procession. The bier was placed before the Altar of Confession immediately under the dome. Monsignor Pietro Pizzani conducted the service and the body, after being blessed, was carried to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, where it is surrounded by 16 torchbearers. The first contingent of Rome’s hundreds of thousands of faithful, piled past the sloping catafalque amid a choral of music and kissed the pontiff’s feet, but the rush was so great that after a quarter of an hour the doors had to be closed. When the Pope’s body is embalmed his heart will be removed and enclosed in an’earthen jar and sent to the Church of St. Vincent Anastasius. which preserves the hearts of the Popes. Professor Mistrucei. sculptor, took a death mask of Pope Pius. Professor Bianchi, heart specialist, disclosed that the 1 ope, who was recovering from his heart attack on February 2, pleaded to be kept alive until at least after to-day’s ceremonies in celebration of the 17th anniversary of his coronation, adding. “I dearly wish to be present, even if 1 am unable to participate actively.”

FIRST FUNERAL RITES BODY IN BASILICIA PONTIFICAL SEAT DECLARED j VACANT I (Independent Cable Service.) VATICAN CITY, Feb. 10. i After the Cardinals had proceeded in tile to the bedside and kissed the hand of the Pope, the Prefect of Ceremonies. Monsignor Respighi, dressed the Pope in his pontifical robes. The embalming of the body will take probably two days before the public is able to pay last respects. An official communique issued at St. Peter's states that following the death of the Pontiff, his seat has been declared vacant and that during this period the government of the Church I has been entrusted to the Secretary of I State, Cardinal Pacelli. The first funeraf rites were begun at the pontifical palace as dawn broke. The Pope's body, dressed in full cere- ; monial in white robes, the head being | covered with a white skull cap on | which the high pontifical mitre wa» | placed, was laid on a stretcher I wrapped in black and gold moth and slowiy carried downstairs to the 1 throne room and theme to the Vati- I can Basilica of Saint Peter. The guard i took up watch with drawn swords. j The body will lie in state in the j Sistine Chapel for three days. Ah public spectacles are forbidden. I The Italian court will be in mourning , for eight days. Funeral hangings have supplanted the triumphal decorations for celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Concordat to-morrow. Immense crowds gathered in front of the Basilica, including students from international | pontifical universities. | King Victor's Master of Ceremonies i notified him of the Pope's death early I this morning. The Sacred College of Cardinals will | meet daily at 10 a.m. for the next , twenty days, the "open seat" period i thus permitting time for the Cardinals | to come from all over the world to select the new Pope. The burial will take place in ten

A GREAT POPE COMPARISON WITH PREDECESSORS DR. PANTCO'S BROADCAST Received Feb. 11. 5.5 p.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 11. In a tribute to the Pope, the Apostolic delegate. Dr. Panico, broadcasting last night, said that Pius 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 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.

ALL CREEDS UNITE CANADIAN TRIBUTES Received Feb. 11. 5.5 p.m. OTTAWA, Feb. 10. Outstanding Canadians of all creeds have united in paying tributes to the Pope. The Prime Minister. Mr. Mackenzie King, cabled condolences to the British Ambassador at the Vatican. The Conservative leader. Dr. R. J. Manion, stated that the Pope's death was a loss to the people of all countries, and particularly to the poor and lowly. The Premier of Alberta Mr. Aberhart, declared that the Pope was an outstanding champion of world peace for seventeen years, and the peoples of the world had suffered a severe loss. The Primate, Dr. Derwyn Owen, said, “I wish to pay my tribute to a great man who played his part .with rare Christian courage.”

WORK FOR PEACE ATTENTION IN PRESS [ British Ollicial Wireless J Received Feb. 11, 5.5 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 10. Particular attention is devoted in the newspaper reviews to th2 Pope’s interest in recent international affairs, and his tireless effort for world peace, which he had maintained until the end. A Dublin report says the Dail has adjourned and mourning is being observed. Mr. de Valera and Mr. Cosgrave paid tributes to the Pope. DUCE’S RESPECTS CONDOLENCES OFFERED. HERR HITLER ALSO. Received Feb. 11, 5.50 p.m. VATICAN CITY, Feb. 10. Signor Mussolini and Count Ciano visited the Vatican to pay their last respects. Herr Hitler sent a message of con- ‘ dolences. Flags are flying at half mast in Rome, Berlin and Paris. Signor Mussolini stated in a mes- ' sage to Cardinal Pacelli‘‘The dis- ' appearance of the Pope’s conciliation means mourning for the Church and Italian people. I offer the condolences of myself and the Fascist Government.”

COMMENT IN BERLIN SOME BITTERNESS ‘‘POPE OF UNFULFILLED HOPE” Received Feb. 11, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 10. The Berlin correspondent of The Times says that while it is clear that for political reasons the German Government has not received the news of the Pope's death with unmixed sorrow, every effort is being made to do justice to obituary notices. Less care is taken to conceal the satisfaction at the fact that Cardinal Pacelli automatically ceases to be Secretary of State, although it is pointed out that his influence, which is regarded as being wholly against totalitarian regimes, will have much scope before and during the election of the new pontiff. Some bitterness against Pope Pius is to be detected. For instance, the Angriff headlines the announcement of the death of the Pope:—“Pope of Unfulfilled Hope,” and says that Pius XI began life as a spiritual reformer and died a political adventurer. He believed the world could only be saved through Catholicism. He was spared the experience of the full failure of his ideas.” It would be bad if a socalled religious Pope were elected. Too often it has been shown that such a Pope is but a complacent tool in the | hands of political wire-pullers and intriguers and an abiding source of disturbance and unrest. Nor should he be a scholar. A man is needed who possesses thorough political experience, so as to enable him to form a better estimate of the laws of the age than his predecessor.” FUTURE RELATIONS (Independent Cable Service.) Received Feb. 11, 5.5 p.m. BERLIN, Feb 10. A Wilhelmstrasse spokesman said:— “We nope the Pope’s successor does not turn to anti-German .activities, ■but that, on the contrary, he will try io improve German-Vatican relations.” “A GREAT LEADER” METHODIST SYMPATHY. [ Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON. Feb. 10. "We recognise that Pope Pius XI was a great man, a great leader in his own church and a great worker for peace,” said the President of the Methodist Church in New Zealand (Rev. Percy Paris), to-night. "The unsettled state of the world to-day, one may believe, militated against his recovery. Methodists will join with their fellow Christians in the Roman Catholic Church in mourning his . passing.”