Thursday, August 21, 2008

Early Papal Footage

Fascinating! Pictures of 1903 Conclave, Benedict XV, plus Pius XI, pictures of the Room of Tears (with its couch) and ends with he, who gloriously reigns going to the balcony after his election (but from the inside), I hadn't realised there were steps down.

Lots of interesting stuff, hasn't Pope Pius XI got a very limp blessing, reminds one of Leo XIII, if you older people can't remember this will help.


here is voice by the way.

10 comments:

Pastor in Monte said...

Yes, very interesting. I don't think the 1903 footage is actually of the election, though, but from a film, probably about the life of St Pius X.
The footnotes seem 'Googled', don't they. Very amusing.

fr paul harrison said...

Amazing footage I must say - well done for finding it!

I like the way Pope Leo XIII posed for the camera

fr paul harrison

alban said...

Fr Ray: Many thanks for posting this lovely video clip. It's almost as though Leo XIII + Benedict XV are waving whilst they bless. The Youtube link enabled me to watch some other interesting videos clips of papal tidbits. A delightful end to my evening.

Anonymous said...

1903 was the election of St Pope Pius X: since it's his feast day today, I assume that the 'XI' in your comments is a typo!

nickbris said...

Excellent Father,very moving

gemoftheocean said...

Thanks for the vids. Here's one on opera which you may enjoy.

Anonymous said...

Great snippets of history here - one of the other films in this section was intriguing about a missing encyclical too. The contrast between the early black and white film and then suddenly the colour is stunning. Rather sad to see papal items once used now as museum pieces though. It reminds me when I saw a particularly magnificent chalice in a London museum which was on loan from one of the religious congregations. One of their priests told me later that it was just too valuable to insure so they had no option but to offer it on permanent loan to the museum.

Sadie Vacantist said...

If you seek out Pius XII and his last days, you can find film of him speaking English and greeting pilgrims from "Sidcup, England!"

Sadie Vacantist said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3PR1_vb4To

5' 20" and he gets ready to mention Sidcup!

PeterHWright said...

I agree with Fr.Paul.

Leo XIII seems very "laid back" in front of the camera. And when he sits down, he appears to be giving a papal blessing with his legs crossed !

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