The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-25
CLOSED HOLY DOOR
nOME's IMPOSING SPECTACLE AT
sT. PETERS.
HIS HOLINESS oFFICIATES.
AN IMMENSE THRONG WITNESSED
THE CEREMONY.

The Pope, Assisted ~ Ills Cardinals
aud the Uigh Officers of the
Church aud Ia the Presence OF
Great Gathering, Goes Through
the oeremonS of WaIIinK Up the
Holy Door of 81 Peters Cathedral.
Rome Dec. 2i-Tho Pope to-day per-
formed thc ceremony Of closing the holy
door ~ st. Peters Cathedral with the
gorgeous forms usual go great functions
of this kind. Il wns q magnificent spec
tacle. There WAS a great gathering OF
ihe princes Of tho church. who pnriici-
paicd ia the ceremony which Was wit
messed hy enormous crowds.
The closing of the holy door took place
with tho utmost pomp 81 the Catholic
Church. His Holiness descended to 81.
Peters Cathedral o., n a. m. and tho
ceremonies lasted uutn .. m The
Pope then returned 20 hs apartments
apparently not fiilgucd lie intonod the
p Deum m resonant voice. and
throughout gave evidence OF being IN eN-
cellent hc,sh ANA spirits. lie used tho
artistic golden trowel subscribed for by
the Catholics OF tho world. IN moriaring
the three glicd bricks which he placed.
as a first layer. on the threshold OF S.
Peters door. The whole ponsiacal court
participated ga the ceremonies
The spectacle inside the vast basiica
was superb. Tho pillars of the ceuirai
naive were draped with gold ombsoldcrod
scarlet cloth. and sho porch under which
the function took place was transformed
into q magnnccntly decorated hail on
the left of tho holy door Wna erected the
poniincal throne covered with red and
god. on che rigat hand Of the door stood
uibuues for royal personaeos. pfinces.
knights of Malta, pfeiatcF. representatives
of the Roman nobility and other distiu-
guished persons Inside the church every
inch Of space was occupied 10y the throuR.
which gathered early in the morning
a strong dctachmcnt 81 troops station
Cd in the square in front or she cathe-
drui, controltod tho incoming crowds. who
literally raced 60 secure the best posi-
tions.
The Popc icft his apartments az ti.B
a. m, borne in tho sacred chair and pre-
cested hy the clergy with lighted candles
bishops. archhishops and cardinals. and
escorted boy the pontihcial noble guard
ON his arrival a. the portal % So. Peters
ne aightcd and entered The church
through the holy door As he appeared
on the threshold tho solemn and slleerv
tones OF tho trumpet echoed through the
edince. The chapter OF the Vatican met
him and presented 20 him holy water
hieii h- -f'riuniun upon the couRreaa-
ton Applause heing forbidden. q reiiu-
ioua silence was observed which height
oned the grandeur and impresslvenoss Of
the moment.
Borne now on tho ssdia gestatoria q
the high altar. he stepped to the ground
and knclt before The most precious rel.
les Of the Catholic church. which we're
displayed on the altar Then the process.
sion reformed and proceeded 20 tho
chapel Of the sacrament. where the poufln
again kneli for some time while the choir
~ the sstino chapel chanted paaine.
The pope was then borne 10 the holy
door and waited until the entire procession
had passed oui through the door he leav-
ing the church last and walking 70 the
throne. where DC seated himself A num-
ber OF sacred songs wcra sung by the
papal choir. after which Leo rose and
blessed al the material employed in clos
ing the door Then Ne .a.e.s....l.=l g..
The throne. knott before che dome ana
laid with tho golden irowel layer of
cement. on which be placed three Gilt
bricks beariray commemorative inscrip-
tions. Besides tho bricks he placed a
caskct containing gold. silver aud bronze
medals and bearing the head Of Leo and
Inscriptions recording the opening and
closing of che holy door
The Pope having reascended the throne.
Cardinal Bishop SerIfno Van Nuteln.
great penitcntlnry. and four other carsii-
nails. performed similar ceremony OF
laying cement and three bricks after
which the mneona employed by the Vati-
can ciosod the doorway with q caavna
screen. painted 90 represent marble. with
q cross in tho center
The candles borne hy the clergy were ex-
iinguinhed. the Te Deum was sung. ar.t
the pontin having given solemn bene.llc-
u0n, was Immediately carried hack to his
apartments.
II Is estimated that eighty thousand per-
sons were spectators OF the ceremony