The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-07
Plus KS CORONATION
WILL TAKE PLACE IN ST. PETERS
AND CONSUME FIVE HOURS.
RAMPoLLA TO RECEIVE HIM
AND DELIVER FORMAL GREETINGS
ON THRESHOLD OF BASILICA.

Pope Wants to Confer His Benedic-
ton from Balcony 0verIOOkine
PiazzR-Vatican OmciaIs Against
1t Because of Its Political Signih-
cance-CeremOnies in st. Peters
Considered a COncessiOn-COnsis-
tories to he Held Monday and
Thursday-Red Hats to he Com
ferred on Four Cardinals Made By
Leo XIII.
Rome, Aug. 6.-The attention of
Rome is now centered on the solemn
coronation ceremony which is to occur
on Sunday and for which great prep
arations are being made. The throne
of st. Peter, which Plus X will occupy,
will be surmounted by a canopy forty
feet high. The functions will consume
five hours.
The Pope has informed the Vatican
officials that he wishes to be received
on the threshold of the Basilica by
Cardinal Rampolla, who as archpriest
of the church, will address the formal
greetings to him.
At the conclusion of the ceremony
the Pope will confer his blessings upon
the people but it has not yet been de-
cided whether he will do so inside the
church or from the balcony looking
out upon the piazza, where many
hoped he would bestow his benediction
on the day of his election. 1t is said
that Plus is favorable to the latter
plan but that the influence of the Nati-
can officials is against it on the ground
that it might be interpreted as recog-
milton of the present state of affairs in
Italy.
Coronation in st. Peters.
The holding of the coronation cere-
monies in st. Peters itself represents
a concession. as in the case or Leo II
occurred in the Sistine chapel. AL
though it is expected that 10000 tickets
will be issued for the event the demand
for them is already great.
| In the consistories to be held Mon
day and Thursday next, the Pope VIII
confer red hats upon Cardinals Ajuti
| Katschthaieri, Taliani and Herrero y
Espinosa, who were raised from the
purple June Is, who have not yet re-
| ceiyed these symbols of rank because
of the illness and death Of Leo. 1t Il
believed that the Spanish cardinal, Her
zero will not be able to be present al
! the coronation ceremonies.
Bells Rung in POPe's Honor.
During one full hour this morning
there seemed to be nothing but vibrat-
! ing sound, so penetrating were the
strokes of the bells of about 500
/ I'll. oil ri, fpe
| gether and absorbed all other noises.
The ringing was in honor of the cleo
ton of Plus X-a welcome unique of
its kind and ordered by Cardinal Re-
spighi, Vicar of Rome, who issued spe-
cial instructions therefor. All the
churches contemporaneously celebrat-
ed masses for the event, the informing
of the Oremus combining with the har-
mony.
The bells involuntarily served an
other purpose, thai of ringing in the
great ceremony of the reception of the
diplomatic body accredited to the Holy
See.
The members of the Sacred College
gathered before the hour set for the
ceremony, and held kind of informal
reception, the conclave, short as 1t was,
having brought them cordially togeth-
err. A procession then was formed.
f1ISJ CdlHG TIC OWES OudIus luCl tnG
Palatine Guard. followed in irregular
ranks by the whole pontifical court, in
its multi-form and multi-colored Gus
toms, the cardinals in all the gorgeous
ness of their scarlet robes and the bish-
ops, scarcely less striking in their pur-
pie.
Plus Walked with Others.
The Pope, in spotless white, his gray
hair, in harmony with his whole attire,
and surrounded by the Noble Guard,
who ALWAYS remain near his person.
went on foot just as the others.
Greeting of Diplomats.
The procession having gained the
hall of the throne, where the members
of the diplomatic body were gathered,
Senior D'Antas, the Portuguese am
bassador and dean of the corps, read
in a clear voice the collective greeting
of his colleagues, presenting their
homage to the new Pope and assuring
him of their fidelity.
Plus X answered with great cordial
ity, thanking them heartily for theif
good wishes. All then kissed his hand
and the Pontif took this opportunity
of speaking personally to each, show
ing a knowledge of the politics of the
diverse countries which surprised the
diplomats, the new Pontiff being cred
tied with taking small interest in af-
fairs outside Italy.
1t was another surprise to hear him
speak French, If not fiuently. at least
with a certain readiness. Altogether
the whole audience gave promise of a
new era of international cordiality at
the Vatican.
The Pope has decided to hold a sse-
cret consistory on Monday next and a
public consistory on the Thursday fol-
lowing Plus has appointed his con-
clavist, Monsignor Bressan, as his pri-
vate chaplain, which means that he
will also be the Pontiff's chief private
secretary.
Cardinal Gibbons, accompanied by
his conclavist, Father Gavan. to-day
visited the Church of Santa Maria, in
Trastavere. the cardinals titular
church. He was warmly received by
the whole chapter, headed by the
canon and archpriest.