The Irish standard., 1908-11-07
CATHOLIC SPORTS
ON The 1|BER
Athletic Games in. Vatican's
Magnificent Enclosure in
Pope's Presence
On Occasion of Fiftieth An.
niversary of Pontiffs
Priesthood.

vedere, within the walls Of the Vatican
at Rome. there gathered recently 49,
600 persons. among them Pope Plus
x. several cardinals and many arch
bishops, to witness the international
competition of Roman Catholic athletes
celebrated as q part Of the Jubilee on
the 5oth anniversary OF the first mass
celebrated by Pitts. :;
Two thousand athletes. representing
over 80 Italian, French, Belgian, Irish
and Canadian societies, went through
their games while the Holy Father
looked on and led the applause.
Running races. gymnastir exhibi-
tions. jumping, throwing of weights,
performances upon parallel and hori-
zcntal bars and many other features
of modern athletics were exemplified.
All this took place within the walls of
the famous old palace that stands up
on the ground once occupied by the
clrcuses of Caligula and Nero, where
the chariots thundered round the
metas and Christian martyrs met
their death. -,
More. too, it was on the very spot
where Pope Nicholas " fondly dream
eG of witnessing classic comedy, where
the pagan mind of Julius II: planned
to hold gladiatorial cornbats and i,-
vite all Rome to see them, where in
later years there were tournaments and
fittings in the age of chivalry and. Dull
fights in the sanded ring They caklcd
it the Court of the Tourna merits: OF
late decades the Court 6f' the Belvederc
had been silent.
But now the present Pope has given
his countenance to the: cleaner and
n,anlier sports that have replaced the
l1arbaric amusements Of the anciert
Romans. and Brilliant gyninastic >fetes
are beginning to have place in the pom
.tifical palace. The Pope had many
times expressed his complete sympathy
with the work. .af lgymnastic. <organiza-
tiol1s. and when ting arrangenents7 for
hiss jubilee were being made he was
delighted to have included the. great
congress of Roman Catholic. athletes
within his walls. Strangely. enough,
the games gave him an opportunity TO
settle vexed question regarding the
taboo of the Italian flag which has per-
sisted in the VATICAN since the fall Of
Rome: = -. - =
When the games were being organiz-
ed 1t was decided that each association
should be headed by its flag and march
past the pontiff in long gorgeous pro
eession. 1t was then found .thatHmany
OF the Italian societies which were to
take part had as their flags merely the
national colors. with some special dis
tinctive device added These asso-
Citations absolutely refused to take
part without having their flags flying
above them. as would the other socir-
ties. ~
rMgr. Bisleti, the Pope's major domo,
was approached. and he replied en-
paatically: 'I will never permit the
Italian flag in the Vatican:."
Then some bold spirits appealed di-
rectly to Plus X, who said at once: s"I
wonder that such a question was even
raised. OF course they will come with
their colors."
1t was suggested that the flags might
b. furled to make them less conspic l.
Gus. Not at ALL" the Pope exclaimed
iinpatiently. Have them come and
hold their colors high and proud be-
fore the other nations. Are we asilsn-
ed Of being Italians?"
So the Italian banners were borne
into the Vatican for the first time III
and with them the. banners
OF other clubs represented, at the
games. A superb stadium was laid out,
and at one side a lofty throne, built
under a canopy. On standards all
dGOuL Lie oval Eulllllu6 lIdCk lluLL0reU
gay banners. and ropes. Of flowers anc
green foliage were. festooned between
them. The brilliantly uniformed sold
iers that guard the palace were sta
toned about .as police, and thousands
o: spectators admitted to the outor
circle of the court yard about the
arena. go.
Pope Plus X, clothed all in white, a
ltng purple mantle sweeping down
from his shoulders. drove in amid the
thunders of cheers and took his place
on the throne. surrounded by cardinals
and archbishops from. several cour-
tries. among them Archbishop Farley
Of New York, who was in Rome in
honor of the Jubilee.
The 1000 athletes, in: various. COS
tunes and bearing their banners and
wreaths Of flowers. marched in long