LYING IN STATE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 7

LYING IN STATE

SCENE IN SISTINE CHAPEL IMPRESSIVE PROCEDURE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 11, 2.45 p.m.) ROME, Feb. 10 Thousands flocked the churches to pray. Theatres and cinemas were closed. Workmen throughout the day removed the red damask hangings erected at St. Peter’s for the concordat celebrations on Sunday. Five thousand gathered at St. Peter's Square waiting for the lyingin state. The body was taken to the Sistine Chapel by four noble guards, whose steel corselets were veiled with crepe. The Diplomatic Corps followed, the procession taking 40 minutes to pass to 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 Is placed in the catafalque surrounded by 12 lighted candles. On the head is a golden mitre, and on the breast a silver cross. A shotgold cope covers him to the knees. Underneath is a lined surplice with fine. lace. Two members of the noble guard in red full dress stand at the bierhead. with swords drawn and grounded. Next there is a clerical chamberlain wearing a violet robe and a lay chamberlain in a black Spanish costume with a gold chain. The recitation of the "Office of the Dead” in undertone by penitentiaries of St. Peter's is the only sound which breaks the solemn silence of the dimlit chapel. A JARRING NOTE STRUCK IN GERMANY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Opyrignt) (Received Feb. 11, 12.30 p.m.) BERLIN, Feb. 10 The Angrif carries headlines over the Pope’s obituary, •* Pope of Unfulfilled hope,” and says: “ He began life as a spiritual reformer and died a political adventurer. He believed the. world could only he saved through Catholicism, and* he was spared the experience of the full failure of his ideas.” LONDON, Feb. in- - Times’ Berlin correspondent says it is clear for political reasons that the Government has not received the news of the Pope's death with unmixed sorrow. Every effort was made to do justice to his obituaries, but less care was taken to conceal satisfaction that Cardinal Pacelli. will

i automatically cease to be Secretary of State, although it is pointed out that his influence, which is regarded as wholly anti-totalitarian, will have much scope before and during the election of the new Pontiff. Some bitterness against Pope Pius can be detected, as is demonstrated by the article in the Angriff, which stated: “It would be bad if a so-called religious Pope were elected. It has over often been shown tbat such can be but a complacent tool in the hands of political wirepullers and intriguers and an abiding source of disturbance and unrest; nor should he be a scholar man. The man needed should possess thorough political experience, and so be able to form a better estimate of the laws of the age than his predecessor.” EIRE D.AIL ADJOURNS LEADER'S EULOGIUM (United Tress Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 11, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 10 The Daily adjourned as a tribute to the memory of the late Pope. Messrs de Valera (President) and Mr Sosgrave, Leader of the Opposition, eulogised the great services to humanity rendered by the deceased. ANGLICAN SYMPATHY ARCHBISHOP AVERILL’S COMMENT (Special to TimQs) AUCKLAND, Saturday “I would like to express my sympathy particularly with the Bishop and his flock in Auckland, and also with the Roman Catholic Church generally,” said Archbishop Averill. Primate of New Zealand, when informed of the death of the Pope. “We all very much appreciate the. stand which the Pope has made for peace, and for the conditions that make for peace,” he added. “I think, too. that all Christians are grateful to him for the stand he has taken on behalf of the Christian religion in face of what is being taught and said in totalitarian States, and in face of the anti-Christian philosophies of life which are current at the present day, especially in those totalitarian States.” WORKER FOR PEACE TRIBUTE BY METHODISTS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday “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, the Rev. Percy Paris. "The unsettled state of the world to-day, one may believe, militated against his recovery. Methodists will join with their fellow Chris- | tians in the Roman Catholic Church » in_ mourning bis passing.”