The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1937-02-06

nation of a new pope is one of Tile
most gorgeous and joyous ceremon-
les of t.a.-e mother church.
Long ago when pontiffs ruled
Rome by civil and military as we'll
as spiritual right the professions
were not confined to Vatican City,
as they are nowadays. But a coro-
nation still is one of the lengthiest
|of papal ceremonies, requiring the
presence of the papal court for
full half day. ~
The new pontiff must rise early to
prepare himself. At $3.50 am he
leaves the papal apartments with
his immediate court and the Sacred
College, too, and descends to the
Chapel Of the Sacrament in St.
Peters Cathedral.
Obedience Pledged
There the pontiff is dressed in
papal robes, mantle, and cloth OF
gold mitre by many attendants.
Seated on the throne in the same
chapel the pope receives the pledge
of obedience from the chapter and
clergy of st. Peters led by the car
dinal high priest, an office now
held by Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli.
After the ceremony in which
cardinals kiss his hand and 81 p
|per, bishops his foot and knee, and
others his slipper, ritual requires
the pope to walk in procession to
the Chapel of Holy Relics there to
adore the sacrament.
During this interval the main
cortege forms to move down the
great nave of st. Peters, headed
! by Swiss guards. In this procession
toward the altar a ceremonial Off
| Ger carries the triple-crowned til
lara of gold leaves capped by blue
enamel ball and diamond cross.
Trumpets Announce Approach
Longhis triurnphal march, sound
ed by six silver trumpets high in
one of the great arches, gives the
lcrowd its first sure knowledge of
| the presence of the pope. The
march begins when the pontiff.
borne on the "sedia gestatoria," or
portable throne, joins the process
sion. Noble and Swiss guards res
iplendent in their full dress march
beside the throne. Attendants on
either side wave huge ostrich fea-
ther fans about the height Of the
pontiff's face
| Vatican etiquette permits cheer
ling even within the church and
volatile Romans are not wont to
miss the opportunity. When Plus
XII moved in procession st. Peters
invariably was damned to its ca
pacity of $4,000 with frantically
| cheering Italians, many of whom
| held their babies aloft to receive
the pope's glance and blessing.
Dozens of rites, each performed
with measured tread, mark the
coronation after the pope enters.
Again he receives the obediences
Of the cardinals, this time in the
Chapel Of st. Gregory
Wisps Of Tow Burned
He recites the mona" or ninth
hour and is assisted into vestments
flor the pontifical mass which is
celebrated at the Altar OF the Con-
| fessiofl. Three times during the pro-
lcession to this altar the papal master
Iof ceremonies kneels before him,
compelling him to stop, and, burn
ing wisp of tow as reminder of
the fleetingness of glory, proclaims:
"Pater, Sancte, sic transit gloria
mundi tHoly Father, SO passes the
glory Of the world"
Prayers of the coronation are
recited oyer the new pope by the
cardinal dean and two cardinal
bishops. The bishops pallium, or
the symbol Of episcopal rank is
handed him and the cardinal pen
itentiary sprays incense over his
| fo1An.
The litanies of coronation are
chanted in the tomb of st. Peter
under the main altar. The gospel
and epistles are chanted in Latin
and in Greek
The actual coronation takes place
on a platform near the Altar of the
Confession. There, his portable
throne surrounded by cardinals
lpatriarchs archbishops. bishops and
abbots, the pope hears the choir
sing 1.-THE Golden Crown Upon His
Head"
Golden Tiara on Head
After further prayers and ritual
the cardinal penitentiary lifts the
golden tiara from its cushion and