The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-04
gorgeous Spectacle Incident
to the Celebration of the
Quarter Centennial of the
Pope's Incumbency = st.
Peters Never Contained
Such Throngs Before.

u rope Leo ALL. Inc scene on the
piazza of st. Peters was magnificent.
There We're assembled many hundreds
of Italian troops in various modern
uniforms making a striking contrast
with the medieval costumes of the
Swiss papal guard on duty at the
bronze doors of the cathedral. The
crowds which gathered before the first
Gordon Of troops were impatient as
they stood dripping under the persis-
tent rain.
When, finally, the doors of ST. Peters
were opened, an almost indescribabie
struggle occurred in which all pres
ent forgot the rules of holiness and
strove hard with push of elbows and
feet to reach the interior of the sacred
edifice, while on all sides were heard
cries of fear and imprecations.
Once inside the cathedral the ladies
who wore lace gowns found them to be
in a much mutilated condition and some
of the women We're carried away in
fainting condition. The tribunes
were soon crowded to overlooking and
all the best standing places We're taken.
The GiIded Throne.
A period of comparative calm sue
ceeded this great rush and the atten-
ton of the people was attracted to the
gilded throne near the high altar and
to the immense pillars of the basiicf,
hung with red silken draperies. Some
of the tTibunes on each side of the
altar were filled with men and women
blazing with decorations. IN a group
of royal personages were the Crown
Princess Victoria of Sweden and Nor
way, the Countess Mathilde of TRAM,
of the Bourbon Naples family; the
Grand Duchess of Sake Weimar, Duke
Robert of Parma, the Grand Duchess
of Mecklenbucg, the Prince of Lichten-
stein and Prince MaXimilIian Of Sax
Oily. In a special tribune was tina
pope's family, the diplomatic corps and
the members of the Order of Malta, all
in full uniform.
After an hour of very fatiguing wait
ing a majestic procession began to ap-
pear. 1t was composed of the great
dtgnitaries of the church, the fOrty-fiVe
cardinals present, gorgeous in their red
robes, alone making a most imposing
group.
Pontiff on the Way.
At II o'clock the great bell of st.
Peters rang at a signal which was
followed by the changing of the bells
of about 500 churches in Rome as they
sounded the announcement that the
pontim was on his way to the basli-
ca. The life of the ancient city SEEM
ed to pause for a moment, hats We're
raised and the sign of the cross was
made. Shortly after inside St Pc
ter's, silver trumpets blared out their
message and the pontiff appeared. The
people held their breath for a moment
and then all the pent-up enthusiasm
burst forth in a tremendous roar of
welcome
From his elevation on the new sedia
gestatoria carried by twelve men in
costumes of red brocade, fanked by the
famous f1abelli (spreading feather
fans) and surmounted by white and
gold canopy, the pope appeared to be
more than a human being. He seemed
to be a white spirit, this impression
being added to by the pontiffs white
robes and white mitre, delicate fea-
lures, face white as alabaster and his
thin hand moving slowly in benedic-
ton.
Faint From Excess of Feeling.
AS the sweet toned, swell trained
voices of the Sistine choir sang 'tTu es
Petrus" thousands of voices shouted,
Long live Pope Leo!" handkerchtefs
fluttered in the air, the banners of the
various societies represented were
waved, and many of those present,
overcome with emotion, Sobbed loudly,
while others tainted from excess of
feeling or fatigue.
Meanwhile, the pope proceeded slow
ly on what seemed a carpet of heads,
absorbing the entire attention of the
vast throng.
When the pope arrived at the throne
the ceremony proceeded rapidly. Leav-
ing the sedia gestatoria, the pontiff
knelt and prayed and then rose without
assistance, donned the falda and the
new triple crown and the celebration Of
the mass began.
At the mOemnt of the elevation Of
the host a profound silence fell upon
the assemblage, the guards presented
arms, the people knelt where it was
possible for them to do so and from
the cupola came the clear thin sounds
Of silver trumpets, giving the idea Of
heavenly music.
The pope then administered the pa
pal benediction and retired to a room
for restoratives, prepared every time he
goes to st. Peters. There addressing
DR.. Lapponi, his private physician, the
pontin said: You see that after all
your warnings the ceremony did me
good. What touching loyalty"
1t was calculated that there were
about $4,000 people present. There
were about 1000 Americans in the tri-
Dunes and the body of the church.
Back to the Vatican.
When the pope returned to the Vail
can from the baSilica, he resumed his
place on the sedia geStatoria and was
carried throughout the whole length of
the cathedral, rising erect many times
to bestow blessings, while many
princes, cardinals, diplomats and Off
Gals bowed low and the crowd salut-
ed him franttcally. When the pontiff
had departed the people Immediately
left st. Peters, but as it was still rain
ing heavily there was much confusion
and delay in obtaining carriages. How
ever, in hree-quarters of an hour the
piazza was deserted
A great many cases were brought TO
the ambulances from the inside of the
building as a result of the crush
When the pope returned to his apart
ments he was asked to describe the
ceremonies and give his opinion Of
them, but his physician insisted on
complete quiet, on which the pontiff
exclaimed:
1.-THE demonstration today has been
so affecting. 1t surpassed all my ex-
pectations. I am completely satisfied.
There were no evidences of discord"
Magnificent illumination.
Tonight all the sacred edifces in
Rome, monasteries, converts, semi
naries and also many private houses
were Illuminated in commemoration of
the Leonine city especially presenting
a blaze of light, while the general effect
was heightened by the burning of Ben