The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-12
LEO XIII AND HIS CARDINALS.
The Pope lettering Through a Mass in
Honor of His Predecessor.

The Pope lettering Through Mass in
Honor of His Predecessor.
Rome Letter in Philadelphia Press
The ardent Catholics of Italy and France cher
ish with peculiar reverence the memory of Plus
TX, and many of them attended the grand
requiem mass recently celebrated by Leo XIII
and his entire court all the foreign ministers
accredited to the Vatican, and their families,
being present. There was some doubt as to the
exact hour fixed for the ceremony, but general
intimation was given that A. NJ was about the
right time to be on hand at the Vatican. AT an
even earlier hour, however the people began to
arrive, and ere long the royal staircase was
fairly sprnkled with ladies in their sweeping
black dresses and wells, and men in swallow-tail
coats white ties, and all the decorations, medals,
stars and orders they could muster. The stair
case is colossal in its proportions, and it would
take a whole army to crowd it; so, although
there was quite a goodly number present, they
looked few enough as they awaited the opening
of the great doors leading to the Pope's chapel.
At last the signal was given the Swiss Guards
keeping the crowd back, broke ranks and then
took place veritable scramble to get ahead and
secure the most favorable places. One instance,
in particular, was noticeable. Three English
girls locked arms around each others waists and
literally charged up the staircase husting every
one they met even knocking over some weak
people who happened to be in their way, and
arrived breathless but triumphant before anyone
else.
When in the chapel, the ladies were packed on
one side AS the space allotted to the public
was very limited, there was considerable crowd
ing, and this, added to the long waiting in the
chill morning air, was not calculated to improve
peoples temper. good many disputes, more
or less acrid, as to right of precedence took
place, but they did not go very far, as any undue
connection would have met with courteous but
decisive intmation from the guards to withdraw.
Consequently, such as felt themselves aggrieved
had to make the best of things as they were,
having only the poor comfort of exchanging
disdainful chances with the more energetic
spirits who had pushed themselves into more
advantageous places. After some time the
cardinals came in, each one attended by three or
four prelates, and robed in violet and ermine.
These princes of the church are all of them
elderly men, and some few of them are so very
old that they had to be almost carried to their
places near the papal throne These were fol-
lowed shortly after by the Knights of Malta, who
striking in their brilliant uniform of scarlet and
gold, with the cross of the order in white en-
tirely covering the breast The commander
of the order was enveloped in a volumnous
mantle of black velvet worn over a silver
cuirass. The gentlemen of the court
the members of the Noble Guard and several of
the papal dignitares in picturesque medieval
costumes took up positions along the central
aisle All these personages seemed to be quite
cheerful, albeit the ceremony one which
might be regarded as lugubrious; they chatted
together in whispers, and even ventured every
now and then on subdued laughter After an
other long period of waiting the celebrants
finally appeared from behind the high altar I'M
der Michael Angeles great fresco of the Last
Judgment" then came detachment of the