Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
POPE LEADS RITES
CLOSING HOLY YEAR
Picturesque Ceremony At
tends Shutting of Door of
Basilica of st. Peter.
By the Associated Press.


ROME. December 24.-Pope Piux
Nl, picturesquely clad in pontifical
robes Of rich medieval design and sur
rounded by ecclesiastical dignitaries.
today performed the ceremony of clos
ing the holy door of the Basilica Of
st. Peter, the mammoth mother
church of Catholicism.
The ceremony officially brought to
a close the year of penitence and par
don specially marked on the Catholic
calendar once every quarter of a cen
tury.
The holy door had remained open
since one year ago today, when the
Pope was the central figure in sim
liar opening ceremony. Since that
time more than 100000 Catholic pill
grimS from every corner of the world
had crossed the sill and kissed the
door posts of that sacred aperture as
a sign of devotion and humility. Most
of them likewise kissed the celebrated
fisherman's ring on the right hand of
the supreme spiritual leader and re.
ceived medals commemorative of the
holy year from the Pontiff's own
hands.
Cardinal Hayes Prominent.
Cardinal Hayes Of New York was a
prominent figure among the cardi-
nails at the ceremony. while the group
of bishops in the procession included
Bishop Lillis Of Kansas City, Bishop
Hoban of Scranton, Bishop Drumm of
Des Moines and Bishop Lawler Of
Lead, S. d.
Several thousands Of pilgrims, to.
gether with multitudes of Romans.
men occupying high positions Of
state and members Of the historic
Roman aristocracy, composed the
10000 persons who filed the great
basilica and its massive portico to-
day to bear witness to the time-honor-
ed solemn ceremony. Other thou
sands without number congregated
in the spacious st. Peters Square,
covering virtually every fagstone be-
tween the weather-worn cloisters. de-
signed by Bernini, which skirt two
sides of the square. knowing they
could never see any part Of the cere-
mony. but hoping to receive some
vicarious spiritual benefit from such
close proximity.
The main portico, with its white
and gold ceiling, was decorated with
priceless tapestries, mellowed by cen
turies of age, and with crimson velvet.
The tribune erected especially for a
privileged few, including the members
of visiting royal families, the family
of the Pope and the diplomatic body,
was richly draped with crimson dam
ask. These decorations gave to the
scene an appearance of solemnity and
warmth in the midst of cold massive
marble pillars and floors.
Papal Throne Near Door.
rLo aoool tbropa b,5 Iaap ereoyad
only "A few feet from the holy door,
and was draped with tapestries bear
ing the papal coat of arms.
While the crowds gathered and the
scene was being made ready the pon-
tiff repaired to the ducal hall of the
Vatican to don his ceremonial gar.
ments He was accompanied by his
religious and secular court, by Princes
OrSini, Boncompagni, MaSsimo and AL
dobrandini. wearing the uniforms OF
the various hereditary offices which
they fill; by the major domo, master
of the chambers, the papal almoner,
sacristan and secret chamberlainS, all
dressed in crimson silk and old lace.
On the way to the basilica the papal
procession was joined by members of
the noble guard, the Knights of the
Cape and Sword, dressed in Eliza
bethar costumes, with the traditional
ruff: by all the cardinals present in
Rome, bearing their long red silk
trains and wearing white ermine
capes: by Oriental patriarchs, their
heads glittering with jeweled head
dress; white mitred abbots and canons
of ST. Peters in purple robes trimmed
with white lace; special corps Of Swiss
and Palatine guards in full dress uni
forms and the Swiss guards bearing
aloft their aXlike halberds.
Trumpets Herald Coming.
At the entrance to the portico the
Pope was raised in the sedia gestatoria
and was borne into the admiring audi
ence His coming was heralded by
the sounding of six silver trumpets
in n specially erected balcony over
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