RECEPTION OF IRISH PILGRIMS BY THE POPE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2474, 19 May 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

RECEPTION OF IRISH PILGRIMS BY THE POPE.

RoMK, February 2.—Three hundred Irish pilgrims wore to-day received by the Pope. Of tlieso 170 have expressly come from Ireland. The others belonged to various colleges, or were residents here. Among the pilgrims were about 40 ladies. Archbishop Walsh, who was at the head of tho pilgrimage, was accompanied by seven out of the twenty-one bishops. The Pope, Mirroumled by the Irish prelates, the Noble Guard, and various officials, entered tho Second Loggia of Raphael, where the reception took place, at a quarter past 10. When he had seated himself on the throne, Archbishop Walsh delivered a long Latin address, in which, after having , praised the pontificate of Leo XIII., he ended by making a warm appeal to his Holiness, urging him to turn his attention to the painful state of Ireland, and to rescue her from her present distress. The Pope soemed to have some little difficulty in understanding the speech, the Latin being pronounced in the English manner. He answered, thanking the pilgrims for their good wishes. With regard to the Irish question, he oxorted all the Irish to bo calm, and to hare faith in the future. "Among the most gratifying emotions which I have experienced," concluded Lto XIII., " I give the first place to the happiness I have felt in consequence of the repeated pood results of my works of conciliation aud of my mission of pacification." The bishops then presented the Pope with an album containing the photographs of all the Catholic churches in Dublin. Generous offerings were presented in sealed envelopes. Leo XIII. again thanked those present for their gifts, and then admitted the pilgrims to kiss his foot, addressing a kind word to each. More than 1,000 people were present to-day at the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of tho new Irish Church of St. Patrick. An altar had been erected on the spot. On one 'side of it there was a rich canopy, under which Archbishop Walsh robed himself in the ponitifical garments. After the blessing of the foundation stone, Mgr. Ryan delivered a long address, showing how, notwithstanding all the sufferings undergone by the Irish people, they contained to remain faithful to the Catholic religion and obedient to the Roman Pontiff. The Duke of Norfolk was present at tho ceremony.