Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-08-20
POPE Plus CROWNED
SEVENTY THOUSAND WITNESS
CORONATION CEREMONIES.
Vast Audience Wildly Acciaims Ven.
cradle Pontiff When Triple Grown
is Placed on His Head at Clos. of
Ceremony in St Peters.

Ceremony in ST. Peters.
Rome, The ceremony of
the coronation of Pope Plus took place
| in the basilica of St. Peters, in the
| presence OF the princes and high dig
| nitarfes of the church, diplomats, Rom
an mobiles and with all the solemnity
and splendor associated with this. the
most magnificent rite in the Roman
Catholic church.
| AS Cardinal Macchi, the dean OF the
| cardinal deacons, placed the triple
crown on the head of the venerable
ponua, the throng of 10000 persons
gathered within the cathedral burst
into unrestrained acclamations, the
choir intoned a hymn of triumph and
the bells OF Rome rang out joyful
peal.
1t is fifty-seven years since the
Romans and Europe assisted at such
q function as was held in st. Peters.
The great basilica, popularity supposed
| never to have been quite full was
OVERLOOKING with humanity. The papal
throne. a bew1lderiug mixture Of gold,
red and silver. was erected in front
of the high altar. AS, contrary to Gus
tom on these ceremonials, there was
no galleries, the basilica bore more of
its normal aspect. On the altar. which
was dressed in white, s.ood the ia
nous gilt candlesticks and magnifi-
cent crucif4- All the available stand
ing space within the cathedral was
divided into sections by wooden bar
riers, which to certain extent kept
the vast crowd in order
Inside the vatican palace there was
no less movement and hustle as the
papal procession, composed of about
500 persons, all Of whom had gathered
early in the apostolic palace, was
formed. The pope seemed to be the
only tranquil one among them all. -
At 6 a. NJ. the ringing OF bells an
nounced the imminent opening Of the
doors and a commotion at once began
had to elapse before the doors we're
opened, and each seemed century
to the waiting crowd. which for hours
already had been standing before the
closed portals. The police and Ital-
ian soldiers had difficult task to
maintain order, as the crushing and
fatigue had begun to tell on the pa
thence OF the people.
When the doors were opened the in
rush was terrific, many who started
from the bottom Of the steps outside
were lifted from their feet and car
ried into cathedral. 1t was a great
human torrent let loose, thousands of
people, rushing. crushing and squeez-
Ing amid protests, gesticulations and
cries for help But once in the whirl-
pool there was no escape, and the COM
pactness of the crowd proved to be
the safety of those caught in it. Won
en- tainted In comparatively large num-
bers and even were overcome by the
heat, but no serious accidents were
reported. Fortunately there we're very
few children present. After their en-
trance the people had further long
| hours Of waiting, and 1t is computed
that the majority were on their feet
altogether ten hours, five before the
ceremony and another five hours while
it lasted.
The scene on his mount
ing the throne presented a magnificent
picture, to which no pen could do JUS
tice. The central figure was the ven
cradle pontiff seated on the throne
Two lines Of cardinals, clad in silver
and scarlet, reached to the big altar,
with it's burden Of burning candles
and sacred vessels, while around stood
the papal guards, the pontifcal court,
monks and officials.
From the throne, Plus x, surrounded
by his suite, walked to the high altar,
standing over the crypt of ST. Peter.
The appearance of the pope in that
elevated position called forth a burst
of enthusiasm.
Mass was then celebrated with great
pomp and ceremony, the voice OF the
pope becoming more firm and sonorous
until 1t was even audible in the most
distant corner of the immense church
Following this, Cardinal Macchi per.
formed the rite Of incensing the pope,
whom he subsequently kissed three
times on the cheeks and chest. as did
Cardinals Segna and Vannutelli.
The holy father then walked to the
throne OF st Peter for the eliminating
rites of the extremely fatiguing cere
mony.
The whole sacred college gathered
about the pope, singing Palestrina' s
Corona" while the choir burst forth
into song. Cardinal Macchi then re-
cited the Pater Noster, and offered
prayer. Cardinal Deigan then pre-
sented the pontifcal mitre and Senior
CardinalDeacon Macchi placed on the
white head the triple crown. At this
moment the church was filed with the
ringing of bells, the blowing of silve,
trumpets. the triumphant strains Of
the choir and the acclamations of the
multitude which could no longer be