The Pope’s Jubilee

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 17, 1903

The Pope’s Jubilee

For several days the secular papers had much to say about Pope Leo's jubilee, which began February 20, and celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of his elevation to the papal throne. In the Catholic Mirror of February 28 we note some interesting statements regarding the ceremony in St. Peter's church with which the celebration was ushered in.

Into the “hall of beatification,” which was densely filled with a great concourse of people of all nations, the pope was borne in his chair on the shoulders of eight men, after the usual manner. He was dressed in red. We quote from the Mirror:—

The pope himself, wore gorgeous robes, and had the triple crown on his head. He bestowed his benediction right and left as he passed through the cheering concourse. . . . Subsequently the presentation of gifts occurred, including the gold tiara, the jubilee present of the Catholic world, which cost twenty-five thousand dollars; the gold medal and the symbolic keys. The tiara is a love offering to the pontiff from Catholics of all countries. The three crowns stand superimposed in high relief to represent the triple power of the papacy. Just beneath the highest crown is a medallion of the divine Redeemer as the Good Shepherd. This crown bears the inscription: “The King of Kings and Lord of Those Who Rule.” The second crown bears the words: “The Good Shepherd Will Feed His Flock.” On the last crown is the inscription: “Thou Art Peter, and Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church.” . . . In addition to the gold tiara, gifts of forty thousand dollars and many other sums in cash were presented to the pope.

Thus before the world are repeated, on this “jubilee” occasion, the blasphemous pretensions of the pope, in taking to himself titles that belong alone to God. But the day is at hand when God will vindicate his name and his servants before all people.