The Washington herald., 1922-05-14
CATHOLIC PILGRIMS
EN- ROUTE TO ROME
FOR EUCHARIST
Hundred thousand Will
See Pontifical Process
sion on May 20.
POPE TO ASK PEACE
Will Set Example by Bridg-
ing Gap Between Quirinal
And Vatican.
POPE TO ASK PEACE

ROME. May Is.--Thousapds of pill
grims from every Catholic country
in the world. are en- route to Rome
for the formal opening. May %, of
the Twenty-sixth International Eu-
charistic Congress.
The congress. which will last
from May ~ to 20. according to
highest vaticap authorities, will be
one OF the greatest historical events
in the modern history Of the church
and will be marked by another
open manifestation on the part of
Pope Plus XI Of his spirit of con-
ciliation toward italy and OF his
desire to see a reconciliation on a
basis that will end the self-imposed
imprisonment OF the Popes in the
Vatican since 1870.
Following the action OF Pope Plus
In breaking down these traditions
by blessing the people In st. Peters
Square from the balcony of 81.
Peters Church. both after his cleo
ton and his coronation. he has
made II known that at the close
of the coming congress, when Rome
will be filled with the greatest in
ternstional gathering which the
Eternal City has ever seen. ne will
again give public evidence of his
desire to see an example OF world
wide pscihcation given by pscihca-
ton between the Vatican and the
Quirinal.
Plans Not Yet known.
The precise form in which this
manifestation will be given has not
yet been definitely decided upon.
II is known. however, that II will
take place on May %. the last day
OF the Eucharistic congress. when
the latter will eliminate in a grand
pontifcal procession at the Vatican
and ST. Peters. in which the Pope,
carrying in his hands the Holy Eu-
charist, will be borne on the sedia
gestitoria In the midst of the Papal
court. Sacred College. Vatican Dip
lomstic corps. Roman nobility and
countless thousa nds of the faithful
from all over the world.
One of the three following plans
will be carried out by his holiness.
according to present plans at the
Vatican:
I. The entire Eucharistic process
sion may come out of St. Peters,
always with his holiness being car
ried on the sedia gestitoria. and
make the complete circuit of ST.
Peters Square underneath the IA
nous Bernini colonnades.
?. The procession may merely
come out OF ST. Peters under the
grand loggia which opens out on
ST. Peters Square.
3. Pope Plus XI may merely con-
tent himself by again giving his
blessing from the central balcony
of St. Peters.
VIII Break Tradition.
In either the first or second event
this will constitute the first time
has left the Vatican and even in
the third event 1t will constitute a
breaking down of the Pspal tradi-
tion, and not to. bless the public
from St. Peters balcony, as u sign
of protest against Italy's alleged
imprisonment Of the Popes in the
Vatican.
The precise place which Pope
festation will depend upon circum-
stances at the last minute. 1t is
expected that at least 100000 people
will be gathered on May % for the
Pontificsl Eucharistic procession,
Only half this number can possibly
enter st. Peters aud Pope Plus, in
order to prevent the remainder
from being disappointed will select
hut to ~ nIIhliG lnDHar-
ance which at the last moment
seems advisable, =
Full measures and precautions
have been taken by the Italian
government, the police and mill
tary AUTHORITIES, to insure the full
est protection to his holiness.
The formal opening Of the con-
eress will take pace May "a. when
all of the various pilgrimages and
| delegations will gather in the fs-
nous Elyededre courtyard OF the
Vatican. Many OF these pilgrim
ages in order to reach Rome, char
| tered not only special trains but
oven special ships,
Addres. OF Welcome.
Cardinal Vannutelli, as honorary
| president of the permanent com
mittee for EuCharistiC congresses,
will deliver an address of welcome
and an address of homage to his
| holiness, to which Pope Plus will
reply,
On Thursday morning, May IS,
| the. feast of the Ascension, Pope
Plus will celebrate pontifical
high mass in st. Peters in the
presence of the delegations.
The opening sessions of the con-
gress will begin the same after
noon in the church of the Holy
| Apostles. The general theme oS
| the congress. which Pope Plus In
tends as step toward the world
vide modification. will be the Holy
Eucharist as the sovereign mea ms
| of pacification. not only between
| individuals but in family, national
and international life.
The themes will be developed
during the following days by spe-
| cial orators in Italian, French.
| English and Spanish. Special ma
tional meetings will be held in the
various national churches through
out Rome.
On May 26. the, feast day of SAT-
Filippo Neri, a solemn pontifical
high mass will be celebrated at
Santa Maria in Vallicella and also
in the Chiesa Nuova, where the
saints remains are preserved.
nn Nav solemn general