Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-25

Rome. December 24.-The Pope to-
day performed the ceremony of clos
ing the holy door of st. Peters ca
thedral with the gorgeous forms usual
to great functions Of this kind. 1t was
a MAGNIFICENT spectacle. There was a
great gathering of the Princes of the
church. who participated in the cere-
monv which was witnessed by enor-
nous crowds.
The spectacle inside the vast basiliac
was superb. The pillars Of the central
naive were draped with gold-embroi-
dered scarlet cloth, an0 the porch IN
Ger which the function took place was
transformed into a magniicently dec
GRATED nall. On the left OF the holy
door was erected the pontifcal throne,
covered with red and gold. On the
right hand Of the door stood tribunes
for royal ~personages, princes, knights
OF Malta, prelates. representatives OF
the Roman nobility and other distin-
guished persons.
Inside the church every inch Of space
was occupied by the throng, which
gathered early in the morning. a
strong detachment of troops, stationed
in the square in front Of the cathedral,
controlled the incoming crowds, who
literally raced to secure the best posi-
Ions.
The Pope left his apartments at 11:45
a. M, borne in the sacred chair and
preceded by clergy with lighted can
dies, bishops, archbishops and cardl-
nails and escorted by the pontifcal No
BILE Guards.
On his arrival at the portal Of st.
Peters he alighted and entered the
church through the holy door. As he
appeared on the threshold the solemn
and .silvery tones of the trumpet
echoed through the edifce. The Chap
ter of the Vatican net him and pre-
scented to him holy water, which he
sprinkled Upon the congregation. APP
plause being forbidden, d religious 81
lence was observed, which heightened
the grandeur and impressiveness Of the
moment.
Borne nov on the Sedia Gestatoria
TO the high altar, he stepped 10 the
ground and knelt before the mos pre-
cious relies o. the Catholic church,
which were displayed on the altar.
Then the procession reformed and
proceeded TO the chapel of the sacra-
ment, where the pontiff again knelt for
some time, while the choir of the Sis
tine chapel chanted psalms.
The Pope was then borne 10 the holy
door, where he alighted from the Sedia
GestatOria and waited until the entire
procession had passed out through the
door. he leaving the church last and
walking I the throne, where he seated
lhimstlf. A number of sacred songs
were sung by the papal choir. after
which Leo arose and blessed all the
material employed in closing the door.
Then he descended from the throne.
knelt before the dome, and laid with
the gold trowel a layer Of cement. on
which he placed three gilt bricks bear
ing commemorative inscriptions. Be
sides the bricks he placed a casket con-
tanning gold, silver and Lronze medals
and bearing the head Of Leo and in
scrlptions recording the opening and
closing Of the holy door.
The Pope, haing reascended the
throne, Cardinal Bishop Serafno Van
nutelli, great pe%nitentiary and four
ether cardinals, performed a similar
ceremony OF laying cement and three
bricks, after which the masons en-
ployed by the vatican closed the door
way with a canyas screen. painted to
represent marble, with a cross in the
centre.
The candles borne by the clergy were
e~xtinguished. the "Te Dcum" was
sung and the pontif, having given sol
emn benediction. was Immediately car
ried back to his apartments.
1t is estimated that eighty thousand
persons were spectators Of the cere-
mony.