Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / Dec. 25, 1985, edition 1 / Page 13
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Wednesday, December 25, 1985 3h tUarren IRecorii Wednesday, December 25, 1985 Vatican Christmas Appeals To People Of Many Nations By MERCER CROSS National Geographic News Service VATICAN CITY ? By the thousands they stream into St. Peter's Square, from all parts of the world, eagerly queuing up before the home sanctuary of Roman Catholicism to join in a colorful observance of Christ's birth. The throngs begin to assemble hours before the Mass, celebrated by Pope John Paul II, begins at midnight on Christmas Eve. Tuxedoed ushers, volunteer "gentlemen of His Holiness," escort up to 25,000 ticket-holding visitors to their seats in portable chairs arranged around the high altar of the basilica. The gold in the mosaics of the ceilings and the great dome glows in rich splendor under lights turned on only for special occasions. Multicolored flowers add a festive touch to the cavernous baroque structure. Carols In Latin As the Pope mounts the altar, the excited :rowd rises and applauds, then grows silent as the service begins. The Vatican choir sings, in Latin, the music (Continued on page 4B) Christmas in St. Peter's Square: An illuminated creche, flanked by a gaily decorated evergreen from West Germany, greets yuletide visitors to the Vatican. In the background is the Michelangelo designed dome of the great basilica, where thousands of worshipers from around the world at tend masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The decorations in the square are innovations of John Paul II, who has been Pope since 1978. World's Smallest State Protects Heritage Of Many Vatican City?108.7 acres in the heart of Rome?is the smallest state in the world. Even tiny Liechtenstein, the "postage-stamp prin cipality," is 360 times larger than the Vatican. Vatican City's per manent resident population is about 300. Its work force numbers slightly fewer than 2,000, more than 90 per cent of whom are or dinary residents of Rome. Despite its diminutive size, the Vatican has all the trappings of nation hood: its own postage stamps, its own diplo matic crops, its own flag, and its own "army" ? the colorful Swiss Guard. Only about 400 people have Vatican citizen ship. Two-thirds of them are either Swiss Guards or members of the Holy See's diplomatic corps serving abroad. Those Who Sleep There Of the 300 who sleep within the Vatican's walls, 100 are Swiss Guards. The rest in clude cardinals, altar boys, members of religious orders, stu dents at two colleges on the grounds, a few families of the "men of St. Peter's" ? janitors, craftsmen and other Inside St. Peter's Basilica, candidates for priesthood from 22 countries lie prostrate in humility before the high altar as they take their vows during an or dination mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II. Today's basilica, on the site of Constantine's original church, was rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries. laborers ? and the October 1978. He is the The Vatican City State Pope. 264th Bishop of Rome, dates its existence only John Paul II, the for- linked in direct sue- from 1929, when the mer Cardinal Karol cession to the first Lateran Treaty between Wojtyla of Poland, has bishop, St. Peter. Mussolini's Italian been leader of the But the Vatican's aura government and the world's 800 million of timelessness is an Holy See resolved a long Roman Catholics since illusion in many ? ways. W* WT .OVE, PEACE, HEALTH... MAY THEY ALL COME TO YOU THIS HOLIDAY AS WE SEND OUR VERY BEST WISHES FOR A,., MERRY CHRISTMAS Norlina Mills, Inc. A Glen Raven Mills Company
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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Dec. 25, 1985, edition 1
13
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