Evening star., 1959-12-07
Pope Gives Blessing to Eisenhower
And Praises the American People

tnS ropes earnest wishes 1ol
Co.'s blessing upon him. Mr.
Eisenhower said he was in
spited By the Pope,s approval
of khe free worlds efforts to-
ward peace and friendship in
freedom"
The Pope also expressed
Sentiments Of beneVolence and
akimiration which we cherish
for the American people He
said he rejoiced that the United
States, under Mr.. Eisenhower
Is Striving so actively to-
Ward the lofty ideals Of q loyal
and effective concord between
nations"
President Thanks Pope
At the end of the meeting
the President said:
''I thank Your Holiness for
the words you have addressed
TO me, my family and my
country. I am also grateful
for your blessing"
The President was accom-
panied by his son and daugh-
tsr-in-law, Mai. and Mrs. John
Eisenhower, and James C. Ha-
gerty, his press secretary. The
Pope received them in his pri-
vhte library.
yesterday was a bright,
sunny day in Rome. contrast
ing sharply with the cold rain
that had marred the first days
Of Mr.. Eisenhower's visit.
Before going to the Vatican,
Mr.. Eisenhower and his family
attended services at st. Paul's
Protestant Episcopal Church,
where a crowd of about 100
greeted him.
The President remained in
side about 20 minutes. He
Joined a congregation of about
$50, mostly Americans, in Of
fering prayers and hearing a
recital of the Nicene Greed.
There was no sermon at the
Presidents request.
Protestant Churches Few
He sat in the fifth row with
his son and daughter-in-law,
and Col. Vernon Walters, his
interpreter, and two other
aides.
The church is one Of the few
Protestant churches in Rome
and despite the American desig-
nation in its name, Protestants
of other nationalities attend its
services. vf
Because of the beauty Of the
church. with its spectacular
mosaics and tiled interior walls,
it, has been DESIGNATED an Ital-
Ian national monument.
On the Presidents arrival in
tie ancient courtyard of st.
Damascus, before the Pope's
palace, The Star Spangled Ban
ner blared forth there for the
second time IN history. 1t had
been played once before when
President Woodrow Wilson
visited Pope Benedict XIV in
1919. Wilson was the only other
American President to have a
Papal audience while In office.
Received BY Oficials
In the courtyard Of st.
Damascus the President was
greeted by a party of Vatican
officials and stood at attention
with them during the playing
Of The Star Spangled Banner.
From the courtyard, in the
heart of the tiny Vatican state,
he was escorted to the elevator.
The party got of at the sec
ond floor. In the Raphael
gallery, adorned by frescoes of
the great Renaissance artist.
they were met by five Swiss
guards.
.Since it was only private
audience, not state audience,
the guards silver breastplatesI
were missing. But they wore
their elaborate uniforms,
striped blue and yellow and
rkd-designed by Michaelan-
gelo 400 years ago.
iThe President and his party
passed through the Chamber
Of the Tapestries, the Chamber
Of the Noble Guards, the secret.
antechamber and the Clemen-
tine Hall. There 10 more Swiss |
guards stood at attention.
American Nuns Present
There also were nine Ameri-
can nuns. One of them, a Sister |
OF Charity, spotted Barbara Eli
senhower and whispered:
s"Oh, she is really nice"
In the little throne room, the |
President met Amleto Cardinal
Ccognani, formerly the Pope's
delegate in Washington. The |
Pr esident had particularly
asked to see him, Vatican Of
fcials said. i
"A minute later the President |
Was greeted by the Pope at the |
entrance to his library.
The President bowed slightly |
when he was introduced to the
pontiff, and they shook hands.
The Pope, in resplendent
white robes, put his visitors at
ehse by valiantly conducting
the interview in English.
THE Pope apologiZed for his
pronunciation but the Presi-
dent said it was excellent. This
evidently pleased the 73-year-
old pontiff, who began study
ipg the language little more
than a year ago.
Seats on Same Level
sThe Pope and the President
satDn red damask, gilded chairs
df 4qual size and on the same
lsJM, The others in the audi
ehce chamber sat in smaller
w.. -1.Ai.A1.. 4. A.. ...a.. =