The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-20

around the newly elected. The Cardinal
dean asks him II he accepts the canonical
election to the supreme pontifcate; II he
says he accepts, forthwith he becomes
Pope, head OF the church, Bishop of
Rome, Father Of Christendom, Vicar of
Christ and Sovereign Pontln. Should he
refuse, the chair is still vacant and an
other election is in order Should he hest
tate, he is asked threettimes. On his
ceptance the Cardinal dean genufleCts be-
fore him, asking him by what name he
shall be known to Christendom in the fu-
ture, and by this name he is known ever
after. The new Pope is taken to the al
tar, where he is clothed in the pure white
robe of the Sovereign Pontif. The dis
tinguishing color of the Pope is white, Of
a Cardinal red, Of Bishop purple and Of
a priest black Enthroned on the altar
the Pope receives the obedience of all the
Cardinals, the Cardinal chamberlain plac-
ing on his hand the Fishermans Ring.
In the meantime the masons remove the
wall under the arch over the balcony, and
all go in procession to the balcony over
the main entrance to the Vatican. There
the Cardinal dean proclaims the election
to- the people waiting outside. The fol-
lowing Sunday is generally set apart for
the coronation of the new Pope He is
carried by the highest nobility IN process
sion, the Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops,
the Ministers and Emba ssadors of foreign
nations, the pontifcal army, whose Of
fcers are mobiles, composing the process
sion The Swiss Guards do duty by
guarding the procession. 1t enters 81.
Peters where for the first time the new
" elected Father of Christendom and
Vicar of Christ ascends the Oldest and
most venerable throne in the world-the
throne of Peter. From this throne he
looks down upon his subjects scattered
over the whole world. All nations and
!, To ate NOT q nTa
sea to sea and shore to shore, but in the
very hearts of the faithful also. The sun
never sets on the territory of Great Brit
ain: but neither sun nor moon ever sets on
the Pope's subjects. For CatholicIty
means ubiquity; only death or. resigna-
ton can dethrone him. Here very
touching ceremony takes place before his
throne. Lest the Pope should be carried
AWAY by the power he Yields and blinded
by the gilded pageantry Of the world, the
master of ceremonies draws near to the
pope and burns little tow or fax on a
silver tray, repeating three times, Sic.
transit gloria mundf' (thus, Holy Father,
all the glory of the world passes away.
Solemn high mass is sung, during which
the Pope receives the pallium from the
Cardinal dean. The pallium was once the
distinguishing garment Of the Jewish high
priest.
After mass the Pope goes to the balcony
of st. Peters, where his inter which
belongs to him as Bishop. is removed and
the dean places. the tiara on the Pope's
head. The origin of the tiara is not clear
ly distorted. 1t is symbolic of his office
as Pontiff priest and king. 1t has en-
circled his honored brow for ages, while
every other monarch only wears for his
crown single circlet of gold In the
first circle of the tiara is centered the
universal headship of the Catholic church,
one fold and one shepherd. In the second
the supremacy of jurisdiction as pastor or
shepherd; and in the third circle is CEN
tered the temporal dominion which the
PONIES enjoyed over a thousand years.
Although the tiara only dates from about
134O vet the thing symbolized by it dates
back to Christs commission to Peter.
The last act of the coronation of the
Pope is the taking possession of the
Rasilica of st. John Lateran, the Oldest
church in the world. Here the ropes
lived for over a thousand years, but since
tho PONIES took up their abode at the Vat
icon thew still go to ST. Johns solemnly
otter their coronation to take possession
of their cathedral. AT the portal OF ST
Iobn Iateran the arch-priest presents
q gold cross to the Pope to kiss. He is
presented with keys of the Basilica, one
kew Of which Is Of pure gold ana the
other of virgin silver. The vast process
sion takes it's way to the large council
han made famous by kings and emperors,
mon of letters and historic personages of
mast ages. and from this balcony the Pope
addresses the people and distributes large
aims He then returns to the palace OF
the Vatican.
Unless things change greatly before the
next election it is probable that the next
Pone will pursue the policy of the present
one and remain prisoner within the
walls of the Vatican, as protest to the
mowers that be against the spoliation
and robbery committed by the
Italian Government in selling the
papal territory. AS in our country
the District of Columbia was cut
off from the States of Maryland and Vir-
ginia to form the independent territory
so as to render Congress absolutely free
from the State authority and influence,
so also the Popes had from the remotest
times a small territory around Rome
which they governed as king.
Inithis way they were free from the in
fuence Of the European powers Such
territory is absolutely necessary for the
Pone in governing 25O, 100000 people his
mail and telegraph are sacred things,
and all such communications should be
free and guarded from the sacrilegious
hands of the Italian Government At the
nreseut time this is not so; he is often
ruthlessly deprived Of his rights. lis
true his Kingdom Is not OIL inns earth
terrestrial, but spiritual kingdom like
INTO the kingdom of Christ, who said
my kingdom is not of this world The
italian law is might is right" and so
the Pope is crippled in the adminstra-
ton of his church Temporal things
don't last always and it may be that the
next political upheaval in Europe may
restore to the Popes their cherished
rights and give them back what was
theirs for over a thousand years-the
papal dominions.