Evening journal., 1903-08-07
FOR
THE CORONATION
Attention of All Rome Cen
tered Upon the Great
Function
5000 TICKETS WILL Be ISSUED
Plus x Will Hold Two consistories
Next Week and Confer Red Hat
Upon Several cardinals-Reeeption
to Diplomats.

Upon Several Cardinals-Reception
to Diplomats.
Rome. Aug. z. - The attention of
Rome is now centered upon the sol
emn coronation ceremony which Is 70
occur on Sunday. and for which great
preparations are being made The
throne of ST. Peter which Plus Y will
occupy will be surmounted by can
opy 40 feet high. The function viii
consume five hours. The pope has IN
formed 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 blessing upon the
people. but il has not yet been decided
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 on his election. II is said that
Plus Is favorable TO the latter plan,
but that the influence of the Vatican
officials IS against It, on the ground
that It might be interpreted as re-
cognition of the present state OF af-
fairs in Italy. The holding of the cor
onation ceremonies in st. Peters itself
represents a concession. as in the case
Of Leo It occurred In the Sistine
chapel Although It is expected that
10000 tickets will be issued for the
event. the demand for them Is already
very great.
In the consistories 10 be held Mon
day and Thursday next the pope will
confer the red hat upon Cardinals
Ajutl, Taliani, Katschthaler and Her
rero Esponisa, who were raised from
the purple jane %. but who have not
yet received these symbols OF rank
because of the illness and death OF
Leo. Il is believed that the Spanish
Cardinal Herrero win not be able to
be present at the coronation cere'
monies.
Plus X received the members of the
diplomatic corps accredited TO the
Vatican. Rome has lately been sur
feited with functions, but this was SO
striking that it held its own with the
oth&s-
Tl& members of the sacred college
gathered before the hour set for the
ceremony and held a kind OF informal
reception, the conclave, short as IL
was, having brought them cordially
together. A procession was then form
ed. First came the Swiss guard, then
the Palatine guard, followed in irregu-
lar ranks by the whole pontiflcal court,
in its multiform and multi-colored cos
tunes. the cardinals in all the gor-
geousness of their scarlet robes, and
the bishops. scarcely less striking, in
their purple
The pontin. 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.
He reiterated his aversion to being
carried in the papal chair, declaring
he much preferred to walk, being used
TO plenty of exercise.
The procession having gained the
hall Of the throne, where the members
: of the diplomatic body we're gathered
the ambassadors arose and remained
standing while the cardinals took their
places. When this had been done the
choir, under the direction Of Father
Perosi the composer broke forth
with melody which held every one
spellbound.
Senor d'Antas, the Portuguese am
bassador and dean Of the corps, read
IN a clear voice the collective greet
ing of his colleagues, presenting their
homage TO the pope and assuring him
of their fidelity Plus X answered with
( great cordiality thanking them for
E their good wishes.
e All then kissed his hand, and the
e pontiff took this opportunity Of speak
ing personally 10 each, showing q
y knowledge Of the politics Of the diverse
countries. which surprised the diplo
mats, the new pontin being credited
with taking small interest in affairs
outside Italy. Il was another surprise
TO them to hear him speak French, Il
p not fluently, at least with a certain
readiness. Altogether the whole au
dience gave promise of new era o.
r international cordiality at the Vatican