Evening star., 1939-02-11
Body Of Pope Plus Is Borne
To Bosi|ico of St. Peters as
$4,000 Watch Solemn March
Thousands Of All
Ranks Pay Homage
At His Bier
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
VATICAN CITY. Feb. 1.-THE
body of Pope Plus XII was borne to-
day in a solemn procession from the
6istine Chapel to the basilica of st.
Peters while $4,000 persons crowded
outside in the vast square.
AS the faithful were jammed from
the doors of the great basilica far
back into the square, Vatican au-
thorities said the public would not
be admitted en- masse to view the
body in its new resting place until
tomorrow.
More than score of cardinals,
one of whom may be the next Pope,
took part In the brilliant, reverent
procession within the walls OF the
basilica which stands over the grave
of the Apostle Peter.
Doors to Chapel Closed.
The doors of st. Peters had been
closed at pm. q am. E. S. To. At
that time the Sistine Chapel, where
the pontiff's body had been taken
Yesterday, also was closed to the
public, which, with some Interrupt
ton, had been permitted to pass
before the. bier since am. q am,
e. S. t..
Halls and corridors leading from
the Sistine Chapel to st. Peters were
lined with Swiss guards in full uni
form with shining breastplates and
steel-peaked helmets. the butts Of
their pixies resting on the floor.
Bells of st. Peters began tolling
At 3 pm. % am, E. S. T) as a sign
that Msgr. Carlo Respighi, papal
master Of ceremonies, had given the
signal for the beginning of the pro-
cession. They tolled throughout the
slow march into the Basilica, which
lasted for a half hour.
Aall Glasses Join in Homage.
Prince and peasant joined in hon.
age to Pope Plus before his bier in
the Sistine Chapel where he lay In
state before the procession.
Crown Prince Umberto was es-
corted into the chapel by the Italian
Ambassador to the Holy See and
thousands Of rank and file Italians
and foreigners climbed the long
stairs off st. Peters Piazza and
passed reverently around the bier.
The Holy Fathers body, clothed in
white and wearing priests red
chasuble. lay near the entrance to
the chapel. On his head was a gold
bishops mitre. His hands, inclosed
in red gloves, were folded and held
a small crucifix. His feet were in
red slippers.
Uniformed guards stood at the
four corners of the bier. Papal
gentlemen-in-wating were in medie-
val costumes with great lace ruff
collars. Swiss guards in bright
striped costumes, designed by Mich
elangelo. kept the crowd moving.
In the chapel background red
.gowned ecclesiasticS, facing each
other in long rows under Michel
angeles frescoes of the last judg-
ment, conducted their unobtrusive
devotions on the late Pontiff's be.
half.
IUpC SpCCCI COHtCyCus
1taly's grieving bishops learned
what His Holiness had intended to
say to them today on the 10th an
niversary of the peace effected be-
tween the Vatican and the Italian
state by the Lateran accord.
An American prelate attached to
the Vatican said the prepared
speech was conveyed to more than
ITO bishops as 81 cardinals met in
the first general congregation since
the death of the Pope. Whether
the speech was distributed in
printed form or was read was not
ascertained Immediately.
It's contents were kept secret, at
least for the time being. but sources
close to the Vatican said they un-
derstood 1t was concerned largely
with Italian racial restrictions on
marriage which the Pope had said
had dealt blow to the concordant,
one of the three instruments signed
10 years ago.
Prepare for Conclave.
AAASC Sdl O41AdAo CIlUScll Dy GllC
princes of the church began prepa-
rations for the secret conclave which
will elect the new pope. They are
Camille Cardinal Caccia- Dominion,
Nicola Cardinal Canal and Domen-
leo Cardinal Mariani.
They were designated in the con-
gregation after the bishops had
assembled in the consistory hall
with the cardinals and then de-
parted.
Msgr. Mella di SAINT Ella, papal
majordomo, was named governor
Of the conclave.
Although 80 cardinals now are
IN Rome. only 81 attended the first
congregation.
February % generally was re-
garded as the date for the conclave
since that Is the final day on which
1t can begin and setting it for then
might permit attendance of the two
South American cardinals.
May Arrive After Start,
Even so, the South Americans
were believed likely to arrive too
late for the opening sessions of the
conclave since their ship, the Nep-
tunia, Is due in Naples March l.
Unless the Neptunia is able to
cut day from her. schedule or
(See POPE, Page A-3)