Huntsville gazette., 1888-01-07
P0De Leo YUI.

\
S-\ thin diameter Of the
Pope Leo XII great circular pi-
azza. Before half an hour had elapsed
there were at least twenty thousand pill
grims and ticket-holders sEivering in the
gray morning outside the portion of
the colonnade which leads to
the door of the Charlemagne. Ladies
in black walls, boarded Armenian
clerics, Polish priests in top boots
and Astrakhan coats, with q fair sprink-
ling Of American, Canadian and English
clergymen. All pushed on in way that
in London or Paris would have caused in
jury and loss of life. At the sacristy
door ambassadors, prelates and Bishops
followed the same method in a more re-
fined way. Inside the vast Basilica Car
dinals and distinguished invited guests
went slowly to their seats, while along
the colossal nave Papal gens-d'armes
with pipeclaYed breeches, operatic boots
and tall topping bearskins kept the line
of procession clear.
Shortly after nine O'Clock Leo XIII, was
brought down in small chair into the
chapel of the blessed sacrament, which
was hidden from public view by huge
crimson damask hangings. He there
knelt for few moments and immediately
proceeded to the adjoining Chapel of the
Pileta. He then blessed the gorgeous
lackeys with a smile and few NUT
tered words, and was raised slowly on the
regal sedia gestatoria, with the ostrich
fans at each corner. The Pope wore a
mitre, present of the Emperor of Ger
many, and not the tiara, but he looked
every inch a Pope who had walked out of
book or had stepped down from
| one of the papal tombs around.
| AS the chair made its first appearance
| the vast multitude seemed to lift thous.
unds of hands to their foreheads to make
the sign Of the cross. Then came thun-
der Of exclamation. ''Long live the
| Pope" AS we walked slowly toward the
| glittering lamps of the tombs of the apos-
| ties, handkerchiefs were waved, strong
men seemed moved, and women wept
| with devotion. There was nothing irrev-
erent in all this-above all no seditious
cries. Pope Leo looked beaming, but un-
usually pale, as he bestowed his blessing
| on the seething crowd Of his faithful peo-
pie from all parts Of the world. AT this
time there must have been more than
thirty thousand people from the apse to
the huge western dome. Above the storm
of WHAT'S could be heard the voices of the
Papal choir singing Pedestrians ''Tu es
Petrus," ''Thou Art Peter" Then a hush
fell upon the multitude and the world
famed silver trumpets poured out their
melody from the gallery of the dome and
the mass began, simple low mass, one
by Gounod, sung by those forty picked
voices. After the Pope had read the last
gospel he intoned the Te Deum in a rather
weak voice, alternate verses Of the Am
brosan hymn being sung by the largest
congregation in the world.
Blessing was given, not from the inner
balcony, but from the high altar, in
feeble voice, with Amens crisply respond
ed to by the choir. This closed the serv-
ice. The Pope then washed his fingers in
the golden ever and basin, presents Of
the Queen of England, and the tiara
given by the Archdiocese of Paris
was put on his head. Still louder ac-
clamations rang out as Pope Leo
XIII. was taken back to his apart
ments, looking, on the whole less
fatigued than when he began the cere-
mony. At night there was a moderate
show of Examinations in Rome, especially
in Leonine City, and even in some Of tie
new houses in modern Rome.
Forty-eight Cardinals and two hum
dred and thirty ei ght Archbshops and
Bishops were present at the mass and it
is estimated that there were thirty thou
sand persons in the audience.
While assuming the sacerdotal vest
ments the Pope was overcome with emo
tion and tainted. Strong salts were ad-
ministered, and he soon returned to con-
sciousness. He then assembled the gesta-
torial chair and was born on the
shoulders Of the sed iari, attended BY
the Cardinals, into st. Peters
Cathedral. Just before he was fully
vested for the altar. he again tainted,
remaining unconscious a few moments.
The mass occupied twenty eight minutes.
After pronouncing the benediction, the
Pope again seated himself in the gesta-
torial chair, and was borne completely
around the altar to the Capelle del SAGE
raments, where he offered up prayer OF
thanksgiving.
CONGRATULATED BY THE CzAR.
ROME, Jan. 2.-The Gar sent a letter to
the Pope on the occasion Of His Holiness
jubilee, congratulatng him on his fiftv
years of priesthood, and expressed hope
that better relations might exist between
the Greek Catholic Church of Russia, and
the Roman Catholic Church.
The January Edition Of the Naval Reg
lister.