The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-30
KING AND PONTIFF
MET IN FRIENDLY CONVERSE IN
THE VATICAN.
THEY TALKED 20 MINUTES.
LATER THE KINGS SUITE WAS
INTRODUCED TO THE POPE.

Were Driven to the Vatican from
the QuirinaI-Rcceived With Ger
emory by the PapaI Guard-King
Was Escorted to the Private Re-
ceptiOn Room of the POpe-Scot-
fish Pilgrims Cheered the King.
Rome, April 29.-King Edward visit
ed Pope Leo at the Vatican this after
noon, going direct from the British
embassy in a closed carriage. He was
accompanied by Col Lamb, the Brit
ish military attache. The carriage
bearing the King was followed by an
other containing members of His
Majestys suite.
People gathered on the streets and
looked on with curiosity, but they alb
stained from any demonstration 1t
was also remarked that contrary to
the usual etiquette, King Edward did
not lunch at the British embassy, but
had luncheon at the Quirinal and after
a brief stop at the embassy, drove to
the Vatican. Thus far did King Ed
ward give way to the Vatican desires.
The carriage in which the King drove
to the Vatican did not belong to the
Quirinal, as a carriage of the King of
Italy could not get within the pre-
cinctS of the apostolic palace.
The Vatican is perhaps the most
ceremoniouS court of Europe. 1t is
undoubtedly one of the most pictures
que, and all costumes worn there are
of medieval times.
AS King Edwards carriages at ago
o'clock entered the court of San Da-
maso, surrounded by the we'll known
loggie of Raphael, and which has been
trodden by the feet of every sovereign
who visited. Rome, with the exception
of the present Shah of Persia, King
Edward was saluted by a battalion of
the Palatine Guards in full uniform.
Tattoo was given on the drumheads;
there was no music, as there are no
papal bands.
When the royal party reached the
grand staircase leading to the papal
apartment, King Edward was greeted
by the Marquis Sacchetti, who acted
for Prince Ruspoli, the introducer of
sovereigns, who is i'll; Monsignor Merry
del Val and Prince Antici-Mattei. At
the upper landing there was grouped
in imposing array number of other
ecclesiastics, who formed a character
istic and magnificent assembly. Be-
hind this group, attired in brilliant
uniforms, were the knights of the
Cape and chamberlains in black velvet
breeches, blouses with stiff white ruffs
and gorgeously jeweled chains about
their necks, giving a touch of brilliant
color to the scene.
King Edward addressed few words
of kindly thanks in return for the
hearty greetings offered him. Upon
arriving before the private apartment
of the Pope, the noble guard rendered
military honors to the British sover-
eign.
AT the conclusion of this ceremony
the door of the Pope's apartment was
Immediately opened. and the aged
Pontiff was revealed, standing at the
threshold. His hand was extended
awaiting his guest. His Holiness was
dressed in robes of white, and a red
velvet cape bordered with ermine
Even King Edward paused a moment
upon seeing the Pontiff in his white
garments. The Pope's face was the
color of ivory, but he moved without
aid and with no apparent difficulty
From his person there seemed to
emanate sentiments of benevolence
and spirituality.
The King and the head of the
church clasped hands and exchanged
a few words in French. King Ed
ward passed within the papal apart
ment, the door was closed and the
Pope and his guest were left alone.
King Edward remained with the
Pontiff for twenty minutes. A bell
was then rung, and King Edwards
suite was admitted and presented to
the Pope. This little ceremony seemed
to please the Pope immensely
At it's conclusion, King Edward took
his leave, the Pope crossing the room
at his side and saying his last words
at the door.
From the Vatican King Edward pass
ed through the piazza of st. Peter,
where he was warmly greeted in Eng
fish by a number of Scotch pilgrims
now in Rome who shouted, "Hurrah
for the King!" Had King Edward
looked up at that moment he would
have seen a figure in a window of the
second story of the palace; 1t was Pope
Leo Contrasted with the British SOW
ereign, who stood below in the sunlight
and the center of animation Of the i'm
mense plaza, the solitary white figure
in the palace window seemed to fur
Their the idea of the Pope as pris-
oner.
Instead of returning to the British
embassy, the King drove directly to
the Quirinal.
Some particulars of the interview be-
tween King EDWARD ana the Pope have
become known. The Pope greeted the
King, saying in French:
Il am happy to see your majesty"
King Edward replied:
IT am happy to be here and to add
my congratulations to those Of others
upon your having outlived the days of
st. Peter
The rest of the conversation, on the
part of the British sovereign, concerned
the attitude taken by the Pope on the
principal social questions of the day.
and, on the part of Pope Leo, about
the situation of the church in the Brit
ish Empire. 1t has leaked out that
the Pontiff informed King Edward that,
in view of the meeting. he had per-
sonally examined into all questions re-
garding Catholic interests now pending
in various parts Of the British Empire
and had prepared a memorandum to
which he hoped the King would pay
his benevolent attention. 1t is under
stood that one part of this memoran-
dun concerns the school question in