Middletown transcript., 1922-02-18
|POPE CROWNED|N IN
GREAT BAs|L|CO
Princes, Church Dignitaries and
Diplomats Present,
CHEERS FOR NEW .PONTlFF
First Message To WorId-Hope Is Ex-
Pressed For Universal Pacifica-
tion And For Spiritual
Rule,

Rome.-Pius XII was crowned Pope
in the Basilica Of st. Peters Sunday
amid scenes of pomp and enthusiasm
and in the presence of princes and
dignitaries of the church, the diplo
matte representatives of foreign coun
tries, members Of the Roman aristo
cracy and vast assemblage filling
the great structure to the very doors
The ancient custom was carried out
with impressive ceremonies, and the
newly-elected Pontiff now occupies the
throne of the first Pope reported
crowned, Leo ILL.,, who reigned from
1895 to 1916.
With the exception of Leo XIII
and Benedict XIV, who owing to the
strained relations existing between the
Quirinal and the Vatican in 1873 and
the World War in 1914, preferred to
be crowned in the Sistine Chapel, the
coronation of all the Popes elected
since the erection of the Basilica has
been celebrated there.
Plus X1. again blessed the crowds
from the outer balcony of st. Peters
this time nearly 100000 people cheer.
ing Long live the Pope" and waving
handkerchiefs, many of them multi.
colored, and admission tickets to the
Vatican which had failed to find
them room inside the great church.
1t had been officially announced that
owing to the cold weather" the Pope
would not bless the crowds from the
outer balcony, but such was the in.
sistence and warmth of the cheers,
lasting three-quarters of an hour, that
the Pontiff finally decided he must an.
swer the call of his children.
Thus it was long after ! o'clock in
the afternoon when the Holy Father
appeared on the balcony surrounded
by Cardinals Vanutelli, Gasparri, Mer.
Apostolic benediction, again waving
the familiar little shake of the hand
as he disappeared into the interior OF
the Basilica.
Previous to this 10000 gathered
within the edifice,, rising spontane.
ously, had cheered the Holy Father as
Cardinal Lega placed upon the Popes s
head the tiara, emblem of supreme
authority. The cheers continued for
SO long time that Plus was compelled
to make signs with his hands as if
seeking silence in order that the cere
mony might continue. Old Romans
who had witnessed the coronation OF
several Popes say that the enthusias
tic reception accorded the present
Pope has never been equaled in their
memory.
Good will, sincerity and hope were
the dominant emotions prevailing in
Rome as the new spiritual leader was
receiving the triple crown with the
magnificent ceremony of the Roman
Catholic Church, but tinge of the
matter of fact and business manner
obtained in the world today. Silver
bugles of the sixteenth century an
nounced the coronation and the red
robes of the aged cardinals minglinp
with the uniform of the Swiss Guard
recalled the Middle Ages, but the
crush OF spectators at the heavy
bronze gates of formerly forbiddine
Vatican revealed that something was
changed in Rome.
Sixty thousand persons were packed
in the noble and impressive Basilics
of st. Peters, silent and reverential
with one thought pervading all-tha
the sanity old man within the Vati
can walls may yet enjoy that which
was the recreation of young Ratti o.
Desio. climbing the Alpine Mountains
of his native land. Today he is {
prisoner within the Vatican walls
but tomorrow, tie hope is freely ex
pressed, he may be free to minglt
among the crowds of the common
people he loves so well.
The first message sent out broad
cast over he world by Pope Plus ex
pressed the wish for universal pae f
cat on and declared that while tn
Holy See should not abandon any @
the church's temporal precogatiyes
satisfactory arrangement, whcreb,
the Vatican could rule spiritual,
only, would he welcomed