Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-12
CROWD RECEIVES
POPE'S BLESSING
Throng Out in Rain as Plus
Appears on Balcony
of st. Peters.
BY the Associated Press.


ROME, February 12.-Pope Plus X1
today signalized settlement of the his
toric Roman question between Italy and
the Vatican and the seventh anniver-
sary of his coronation as Pontiff by
appearing on the balcony outside of the
Basilica of st. Peters and blessing a
great crowd beneath.
The Pope, wearing red cape and a
big red hat with gold tassels, appeared
on the balcony after the solemn high
mass in st. Peters and blessed the
crowd which was standing in a pouring
rain in the hope that the Pontiff would
make his appearance.
AS he was seen from the square be-
low, the populace cheered him to the
echo and then, amid an impressive
silence, knelt bareheaded under the
downpour Of rain, while the Pope
blessed them.
1t was the Pope's first blessing from
the balcony of st. Peters since his
election to the pontificate on June g.
1922.
Crowd Rewarded for Patience.
1t had been announced last night by
the Pope's master of the chamber that
the Pontif did not believe himself liable
conveniently" to impart the benediction
because of the situation occasioned by
yesterdays signing of the agreement
between the church and state settling
the Roman question, but the crowd had
gathered in the street nevertheless and
was rewarded for its patience.
Pope Plus today attended solemn high
mass in st. Peters, the largest church
in Christendom. Solemn high mass on
the anniversary in past years has been
sung In the Sistine Chapel of the Vati-
can before rather restricted congre-
cation. In st. Peters some 10000 per-
sons can be accommodated.
The city of Rome today had the as
pect of carnival city. The conoordat
met acclaim everywhere, and through
out the city the papal flag of yellow and
white hung side by side with the Ital-
ian tri-color. The city's entire Fascist
organization assembled at st. Peters
Square this morning.
Saluted by the silver trumpets of the
Swiss Guard, playing the .Papal March, -
the Pope entered the great basilica from
the Vatican, borne aloft on the sedia
cestatoria, sort of portable throne on
a platform, by attendants in flame
cclored uniforms. On either side huge
ostrich plumed fans waved to and fro.
Outburst Of Applause.
His entrance was the signal for an
outburst of handclapping and cries of
Viva IL Papa" (Long live the Pope).
The Pope, now 70 years old, seemed
rather bowed down under the heavy
tiara, or triple crown. Beneath his red
cloak, richly embroidered with gold, he
was clad entirely in white, the gold and
jewel-studded pectoral cross cleaning
now and then from underneath the
cloak's folds.
When he had been carried about half
way up the immense nave of st.
Peters, the Sistine Choir, massed on
the left side of the main altar, broke
into the strains of ''Tu Es Petrus''
(''Thou Art Peter'), the Latin version of
Christ's charge to the fishermen of
Galilee before taking leave of his apos-
ties.
st. Peters ordinarily is devoid of
chairs and has but few pews, bur to-
day long rows of wooden benches ac-
commodated the crowds. Those there
saw a procession come up the nave
the like Of which is rarely witnessed in
Europe these days. There were the
members of the Pope's noble guard, the
papal chamberlains in black with white
Continued on Page s Column 1