The Vatican

One of the busiest spots in Rome since the Allies entered the city five weeks ago has been Vatican City, the only sovereign state no bigger than an 18-hole golf course. One of its busiest persons has been Pope Pius XII,* who has granted audiences to more than 25,000 United Nations servicemen & women.

Last week the Vatican was busy with less secular matters--notably the beatification of Pope Pius X. For two days the Chapel of Relics in St. Peter's Basilica housed the body of Pope Pius X, who died in 1914, reputedly of a broken heart because he was unable to prevent World War I. The body lay in state, garbed in scarlet, white and gold vestments given by Pius XII. Two papal Guards, with drawn swords, stood outside the floodlit chapel as many a British and U.S. serviceman stared through the grilled doors at the Pontiff's face and hands, blackened by mummification.

The two-day exhibition of the Pope's body was the second step leading to his beatification. He may then be called Blessed Pius X and is eligible for canonization as St. Pius X./-

Next step: acceptance by the Congregation of Rites of two miracles of healing attributed to the intercession of the late Pope. Medical authorities must convince the Congregation that the two cures occurred in cases which medical science had declared incurable.

Last week the Vatican also

P: Decided not to distribute the medal issued annually on the Vigil of the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul (June 28) to commemorate some notable event of the past papal year. Reason: The medal approved by Pius XII several months ago showed the Pope standing in an attitude of prayer amid the ruins caused by the first U.S. bombing of Rome last July. The old medal will be melted down, a new design drawn. Rumored theme: the Pope depicted as the protector and savior of Rome.

Pope Pius XII received in private audience:

P: General Charles de Gaulle (who later prayed at St. Peter's tomb).

P: Tamed Tenor Beniamino Gigli, whose friendliness toward the Nazis caused U.S. Army officials to bar him from singing at a United Nations concert in Rome (TIME, July 3).

P: Lieut. Colonel Charles Poletti, former Acting Governor of New York, now Civil Governor of Rome.

P: Seventy chaplains attached to the Allied Fifth Army in Italy.

P: President Roosevelt's personal representative at the Vatican, Myron C. Taylor. Of the Pope portly Mr. Taylor reported: "His health seemed excellent, even better than when I saw him late in 1942."

* Preaching in Rome's newly reopened synagogue, Chief Rabbi Israele Zoller paid a warm tribute to Pope Pius. He told his congregation, which included many a U.S. serviceman, that the Vatican had worked indefatigably to mitigate the suffering of Rome's Jews during the Nazi occupation. The Rabbi said that the Pope himself had sometimes interceded with the Nazis. In some cases he saved Jewish lives, in others he was able to soften Nazi penalties.

/- Of the 261 Popes since St. Peter, 83 are saints. Last one: St. Pius V, canonized in 1712.

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