Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-21
HAPPY DAY FOR POPE LEO
Completes Functions Of His jubilee Without
Undue Fatigue
HALL PRESENTS MOST BRILLIANT ASPECT
Number of Americans Are Present at
the Celebration at the Vatican,
Including Bishop Burke
of st. Joseph.

ROME, Feb 2O-The pope completed the !
functions Of his jubilee today without un-
ne fatigue. Upon returning to his apart |
.nents he exclaimed: This is really the
happiest day Of my life"
1T seems impossible that II is twenty |
! FIVE years since have been there" was
! Pope Leos exclamation as he looked from
a window OF his apartments this morning
into the suhlit piazza Of St. Peters.
! This was the pontiffs only reference to
his long term of self-imposed :mprison
| ment in the vatican, during which he has
not gone beyond the palace grounds and
st. Peters, which is considered TO be part
\ Of the vatican.
What glorious morning for the Jubilee
/ Of my pontih,ate," the pope said as he
| proceeded with evident pleasure to peruse
| the almost innumerable kilograms, letters
and addresses OF congratulations which have
reached the vatican from all parts Of the
/ world.
Hall Presents Brilliant Aspect.
| The hall of beatihcation above the
portico Of st. Peters, where the pope held
| his Jubilee reception. presented a brilliant
| aspect. II was beautifully. hung with
! antique brocades and Illuminated by thou
| sands Of electric lights and wax candles.
The boxes lining the long, narrow hall
\ we're filled to their capcity with members
Of the Roman aristocracy, diplomats, women
with black wells, men in evening dress and
monks and sisters in varying garb. Here
and there groups Of papal guards in bright
uniforms lent color TO the whole. Notable
| among the diplomats was Count Almorovar.
head of the special mission sent to repre-
sent the king of Spain at the Jubilee
The struggle to get into the hall was
turned terrific. People were swept of
their feet and women were overcome, but
none were really injured. The babel of
tongues raised in protest testified to the
worldwide character of the gathering.
Americans who Are Present.
Among the Americans present we're
Bishops Maurice Burke OF St. Joseph. Mo,
and Edward Dunno of Dallas, Tex; Fathers
S. p. Mcdonnell and Hugh O'Gara McShane
Of Chicago and Thomas O'Gara of Whining
ton, H.; Mr.. and Mrs. Choate and r. U.
| Johnson.
There was a long and tedious wait before
the ceremony commenced and the audience
was groHing restless, when suddenly great
roar Of Long live Leo" and Long Live the
Pope King" announced the arrival of the
pontiff. His holiness was borne in the
cediagistoria on the shoulders of eight men
habited In red brocade. The pope himself
wore gorgeous robes and had the triple
crown on his head.
He bestowed his benediction right and
left as he passed through the cheering con-
course, whose enthusiasm was so great and
whose desire to touch the hem of the popes
gown was intense that the presence of
the guards seemed really necessary for his
protection.
In a procession, surrounded by such
brilliant escort of prelates. aristocracy and
guards, Pope Leo always appears at his
best His feebleness and bent form are
hidden and the public sees only the ven-
cradle patriarch with cameo-like features
and kindly smile.
Give Pope Many Presents.
The pope was accompanied by Cardinals
Mocenne, Perraud, Ferrari, Satolli, Res
pighi Boschi and Macchi and escorted by
the noble guards in their red state uni
forms, which they had not worn since the
fall of the temporal power. The celebrated
feather fans on both sides Of the sedia
Gestatoria excited great interest among the
Americans present, as 1t is said they were
gift from Mrs. Joseph X. Drexel to the
Old Ones home and given to the museum
of the University of Pennsylvania.
On the right of the pontihcal throne was
assembled the Pecci family, to which the
pope belongs, and on the left stood Count
Almodovar. When the pontiff assembled the
throne he seemed to be in a kind of glori-
fed atmosphere attained by peculiar ar
rangement OF red draperies before the
windows.
Cardinal Respighi, vicar OF RoAe, read
an affectionate Latin address, expressing
loyalty and devotion and offered the gold
!, tiara. the jubilee present of the Catholic
world, which cost $4,000. and $4,000 in
. money.
Cardinal Ferrari, archbishop Of Milan, on
behalf OF a pilgrimage from Lombardy,
presented an address of felcitatlon and
gold and silver and bronze commemorative
medals on the diverse OF which was the
, head Of Leo XIII and on the reverse the
: figure Of the Redeemer, surrounded by the
: apostles in the act of comforting on St.
, Peter the supreme pontihcal power. The
pope thanked the Lombardy pilgrims and
gave them his benediction.
Cardinal Boschi read a third address and
, presented his holiness the symbolic keys,
one OF gold and the other of silver, ac-
companied by an offering OF $4,000 in gold
coins.
The Roman committee for the jubilee
fetes presented a rich parchment volume
with the signatures Of all who had contrib
uted to the Offering, with another sac, 900
TO be devoted TO the restoration of the
j basilica OF st. John Lateran, which is un-
der the care Of Cardinal Satolli
other committees followed with addresses
and offerings.
The pope expressed his qualification and
5 admiration at the artistic designs and
g workmanship Of the various offerings and
= then charged Monsignor Bisleti his mas
ter OF the chamber, to read a Latin speech
e addressed ITO my venerable brothers and
: beloved children"
POnsin Returns Thanks.
In this address his holiness expressed
4 ! satisfaction and continued: For the sec
ond time in a century Christ has wished to
4 glorify His vicar earth by allowing him
TO reach the years Of St. Peter"
The address ended by saying that the pom
tin was happy to celebrate his jubilee
amidst the homage and veneration of the
u Catholic universe.
= After bestowlng the apostolic blessing
5 he returned 10 his apartments amid the en-
d thusiastie plaudits Of the multitude. He
Z comDleted the functions of the iubilee