The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-01-16
Tho popss Appearan0e-oM0s.

The Roman correspondent of New York
/ York paper-PrUtestant = thus refers to the
Pope, his bearing and office, while describing
the ceremonies attendant on the opening of the
Council: *SA-
| The Pontiff turned towards the vast shouting
and struggling masses of the crowd in the
Piazzn, his bright, sweet venerable face with a
smile of which it really is hardly too much to
say, as it was said of the smile of the Prince6
of LORRAINE that "to look upon IL is like
standing in She sunshine.D As had seen him
last, standing on the steps of San Padgo {nore
I le Mura, on b1Fping day in june, 1867, so
seemed the Pope on this dull, drizZling day of
December, 1862 not \onyS hair older, not n
Thought more troubled, not q shade saddened
by the fight of the moments which are carry
ing him forward SO fast to the ominous goal
man of whose face one might say, his most
inward til ought maketh him glowSR the Pope
is that man He, and not another, devised and
determined upon this. great, this peritQns es-
pertinent of an Geutnenical Council. All the
secular personages who, from generous or uu-
generous reasons, care to protect and preserve
his position, have urged and entreated him TO
avoid it.
1t is the P0pe's eouncil; the consummation
of q faith which more deeply, alas! perhaps
than any or all of the mYriads there assembled
about him to day in ST. Peters place and in St.
Peters Church, the simple, earnest, kindly old
man cherishes in the reality and majesty of
the office which he bears.
The ceremony of the " obedience" ended, it
arose at the close Oft, and, after reading n
brief prayer, proceeded to deliver his hortatory
address toethe Council he haG already been on
foot and in the harness of his functions for
seven mortal hours. Is it not then really note
worthy that at his age, and with his many in
frmities, Plus TX. should have been able to
pronounce, partly from notes, and partly as l
can vouch, eXtemporan eously, an elaborate and
earnest address of more than three quarters of
an hour in length, and that not only in a clear
and resonant voice, but with positive bursts of
really brilliant eoquence AS he drew
near the end of his speech, the Pontih dropped
his notes carelesslys and for more than quarter
of an hour raising his exquisi tie voice with the
fire and vigor of youth, eXbortipE his hearers
to patience and devotion and courage in the
great work of reconstructing and re-establish-
ing the faith of the world, which was now
laid upon them. :.
The Pope, once invested, took his seat, and the
whole body of the Fathers, assembled in the
him. making reverential homage as they paused
at his throne, and kissing, each in his turn, the
Fisherman's Ring on his extended hand. This
ceremony it was impossible to witness without
feeling profoundly impressed by the magnitude
and subtlety of the relations to which il bore
witness between this ancient seat of dominion
and the soul and mind of the Whole civilized
world. What nation, what zone, what race
was here unrepresentedH And all these gilt
each in his fold prince and power, came up
here humbly bowling himself to the earth before
the old man, whose single voice it is the duty
of them all to proclaim the voice of heaven,
even unto the uttermost parts of the earth !!
Who shall pretened that science is king, or
commerce lord of mankind, in the presence of
such q spectacle as this