The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-10-30

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Mass outside Vatican walls at
the College of the Propaga.
and the See of Venice over
which he ruled.
Pope John was crowned
Nov. 4, seven days after his
election. On Nov. "a he took
formal possession of his ca.
ST. John Laferan.
Four days later he inaugu-
ton of the Faith, a house of
studies for foreign seminar
ans without their own nation
al college in Rome. He soon
paid a visit to the Pontlflcal
Roman Seminary, where he
sent students into uproarious
laughter with stories of his
own days there.
Upon arising one morning
he decided he would like TO
see the students of the ETH.
epian College, the only semi
nary residence within Vatican
City. That same day the ETH.
epian seminarians stro e
with the Pope through the
Vatican gardens.
A tone of establishment in
creasingly characterized the
newspaper accounts OF the
Pope's visit outside Vatican
City. This did not escape the
Pope himself, a systematic
reader of newspapers. Why,
he asked during a Christmas
visit to a Rome hospital, was
the world surprised? The on
ly purpose of his visits, he
said, was TO apply the teach
ing of the Gospels and carry
out the ID spiritual and cor
poral works Of mercy.
The next day, the Pope per-
formed a work of mercy that
astonished the world even
more: He visited the impris-
oned. The director Of Rome's
Regina Coeli prison, when
told that the Pope was com
ing. shouted an incredulous
"Who?" Television and news
reel cameras were set up TO
record what was perhaps, in
the public eye, the most
memorable event of Pope
Johns first year in the papa.
cy.
From the we'll of the prison
rotunds the Pope spoke to the
400 inmsfes. Some stood
several deep in front of the
walls and others watched
through the bars of the cells
that rose in four circular
tiers up the interior OF the
rofunds.
We'll, I have come" he
said. you have seen me. |
have fixed my eyes on yours;
] have joined my heart to
your heart" He told the pris-
oners to write their loved
ones and relay his promise to
pray his Rosary and celebrate
his Mass for the prisoners in
tentions.
The Pope raised his hand in
blessing. Twelve hundred
prisoners knelt. Then a cheer
went up that echoed with
such violence inside the tow
er that at least one sound
recording apparatus was I'M
able to capture it without
heavy distortion,
A reporter said afterwards:
II never saw so many PEG.
Pile crying in all my life. This
Pope was crying. The cover.
nor of the prison was crying.
The prisoners were crying.
The guards, the priests, sv.
srybody was crying. ! thought
the place would dissolve in q
flood of tears"
Less than a month after the
prison visit Pope John sprang
into the headlines again with
a historic announcement: an
ecumenical council Of the
Church's ruling bishops and
other officials would be call
ed.
To a group OF IL cardinals
assembled at the Basllica Of
ST. ul-Outslde-the-Wal on
Jan. 25, feast of the Conver.
sion OF 81. Paul, the Pope
said:
We announce to you, i'm
deed trembling a little with
humble resolution OF intsn-
tion, the name and the pro-
posal Of . fwo.fold eelebra-
tion: o diocesan synod for the
city tRome) and an eeumeni-
cal council for the Universal
Church." He continued:
They will lead happily to
the desired and awaited up
dating of the code of canon
law, which should accompany
and crown these two tests OF
the practical application of
the provisions of Church dis.
cipline."
The Pope gave no date for
the ecumenical council. But
preparations for ii began al
most Immediately. BY early
summer of 1859 more than
2.700 Of the worlds ruling
bishops, abbots and major re
ligious superiors were in
structed TO submit their Suo
gestions for the councils
agenda. BY early autumn thu
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