The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-25
CLOSING THE HOLY DOOR.
The Pope Performs the Ceremony Which is
Witnessed by Enormous Crowds.
(By lac ASSOCIATED Press

Rome, Dec. 24.-The Pope today per-
formed the ceremony of closing the holy
door of st. Peters Cathedral with the
gorgeous forms of a ceremony OF this
kind. 1t was a magnificent spectacle.
There was a great gathering of the
princes of the church, who participated in
the ceremony, which was Witnessed by
enormous crowds.
The closing of the holy door took place
with the utmost pomp of the Catholic
church His Holiness descended to St.
Peters Cathedral at II a. m. and the
ceremony lasted until l D. m. The Pope
then returned to his apartments appar-
emily not fatigued. He intoncd the TIE
Deum in a resonant voice, and throughout
gave evidence of being in excellent health
and spirits. He used the artistic, golden
trowel subscribed for by the Catholics of
the world, mortaring three gilded bricks,
which he placed as a first layer on the
threshold of st. Peters door. The whole
Pontiical court participated in the cere-
monies. The spectacle inside the vast
basilica was superb. The pillars of the
central Nave were draped with gold
embroidered scarlet cloth. and the porch
under which the function took place was
hall On the left of the holy door was
erected the Pontifcal throne, covered
with red ana gold. On the right hand of
the door stood tribunes for royal per-
sonages, Princes, Knights of Malta, pre-
lates, representatives of the Roman no
bility and other distinguished persons.
Inside the church every inch of space was
occupied by the throng which gathered
lofn ~,
ment of troops, stationed in the square
in front of the Cathedral, controlled the
incoming crowds, who literally raced to
secure the best positions.
The Pope left his apartments at Has
a. m., borne in the sacred chair and pre-
ceded with lighted candles, Bishops, Arch
bishops and Cardinals and escorted by
the Pontiical noble guards. On his arri-
val 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 trum
pet re-echoed through the edifce. The
chaplain of the Vatican met him and
presented to him holy water, which he
sprinkled upon the congregation. APP
plause being forbidden religious silence
was observed which heightened the grand
Borne now on the sedia gestatoria to
the high altar, he stepped to the ground
and knelt before the most precious relies
of the Catholic church, which were dis
played on the altar. Then the procession
reformed and proceeded to the chapel of
the sacrament, where the Pontiff again
knelt for some time, while the choir of
the Sistine Chapel chanted Psalms. The
where he alighted from the sedia gesta-
toria and waited until the entire process
sion had passed out through the door,
he leaving the church last and walking
to the throne, where he seated himself
A number of sacred songs were sung by
the Papal choir, after which Leo rose
and blessed all the material employed in
| closing the door Then he descended from
the throne, knelt before the dome and
laid with the golden trowel a layer of
cement on which he placed three gilt
bricks bearing commemorative inscrip
tons Beside the bricks he placed a
casket containing gold, silver and bronze
medals and bearing the head of Leo and
inscriptions recording the opening and
closing of the holy door.
The Pope having re-ascended the
throne, Cardinal Bishop Serafno Vannu
| tell, and four other cardinals,
performed similar ceremony
Of laying cement and three bricks, after
which the masons employed by the Vati-
can closed the doorway with a canvass
screen, painted to represent marble, with
cross in the centre.
The candles borne by the clergy were
extinguished, the re Deum was sung and
ton, was Immediately carried back to his
apartments.
1t is estimated that eighty thousand
persons were spectators of the ceremony.