VATICAN
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VATICAN
obligation quickly to give to the Church her ablest
son as ruler and guide. The cardinals then with-
draw to the Sistine Chapel. In the Cappclla Pao-
Ima are sung daily the conclave Solemn Masses "De
Spiritu Sancto", at which aU members of the con-
clave must be present.
C. The Chapel of Nicholas F.— While the two above-named chapels are situated on the first floor of the palace, which bounds the Cortile di San Dam- aso, the Chapel of Nicholas V (chapel of San Lorenzo) lies on the second floor in the immediate \-icinity of the Stanze and Loggie of Raphael. Built by Nicholas V, the chapel was adorned (14.50-55) by Fra AngeUco with frescoes, depicting chiefly scenes from the hves of Sts. Laurence and Stephen. This wonderful series of paintings is Angehco's greatest work.
D. The Pope's Prinate Chapel. — In the reception rooms of the pope, between the Sala degU Arazzi and the Sala del Trono, hes a smaller room, from which a door leads to the private chapel of the pope, where the Blessed Sacrament is always reserved. Here the pope usually celebrates his Mass, and hither are invited those who are accorded the privilege of receiv- ing Communion from his hand. The lay members of the papal family usually make their Easter Commun- ion in this chapel on the Monday in Holy Week; the prelates of Rome make theirs on Holy Thursday. On both these occasions the pope celebrates. After Mass all are entertained at breakfast in the Sala dei Paramenti. the majordomo representing the pope a.s ho.st.
E. Cappella della Sala Matilde.— On days when a larger number of strangers are admitted to assist at the pope's Mass, the Holy Father uses the Cappella della Sala Matilde, a simple but tastefully decorated chapel which Pius X had erected in the Sala Matilde on the second floor in the middle building.
F. The Chapel of the Swiss Guards lies at the foot of the papal residence in the immediate vicinity of the Portone di Bronzo and the quarters of the Swiss Guards, and in it the services for the Guards are celebrated by their special chaplain. This Chapel of Sts. Martin and Sebastian dates from the sixteenth century, and has a special charm.
The former Cappelle di San Pio V lay on the southern end of the present haUs of the library, the chapels being situated under one another on three floors. The middle chapel on the first floor formerly contained the addresses recently transferred to the Casino of Pius IV. The paintings here are by Giorgio Vasari.
VI. The Pal.\ce as a Place of Residence.— The Vatican Palace was not intended and built as a residence. Only a comparatively small portion of the palace is residential; all the remainder serves the purposes of art and science, or is employed for the administration of the official business of the Church and for the management of the palace. The rooms formerly intended specially for residence are to-day utilized to accommodate collections or as halls of state. Hence, the Vatican can more properly be regarded as a huge museum and a centre of scientific investigation than as a residence. The residential portion of the palace is around the Cortile di San Damaso, and includes also the quarters of the Swiss Guards and of the gendarmes situated at the foot of this section. Of some 1000 rooms in the whole palace about 200 serve as residential apartments for the pope, the secretary of state, the highest court officials, the high officials in close attendance on the pope, an<l some scientific and administrative officials. This limited number could be increased only with the most costly and extensive alterations. When the temporal dominion of the pope came to an end in 1870, a large number of the minor officials and servants of the (^uirinal Palace had to be sustained during the confusion of the time; these latter were temporarily
assigned previously unused rooms of the Vatican.
Pius X executed the plan of erecting in the immediate
vicinitj' of the Vatican a special large residence for
aU these families, where they are now accommodated.
This practical innovation affords them pleasant and
commodious quarters.
In the eastern wing (facing towards Rome) of the residential section the pope occupies two floors. On the upper floor (the thkd) he resides with his two private secretaries and some servants; on the second floor he works and receives visitors. One suite of rooms receives the morning, and the other the midday and afternoon sun. The second floor includes the reception rooms, which the visitor enters through the wonderful Sala Clementina, where a division of the Swiss Guards keep watch at the entrance to the papal apartments. The next room is the Anticamera Bassa, in which the servants stand, and in which all summoned to an audience lay aside their wraps. An air-trap opens into the Sala dei Gendarmi, so called because two gendarmes in court imiform are there stationed. A covered way leads backwards through the coiut to the working-room of the pope. The next hall is known as the Sala del Cantone or Sala della Guardia Palatina, as it is a corner room where during the reception a division of the Palatine Guards are drawn up. The eastern suite of rooms begins with the Sala degU Arazzi, in which three huge Gobelin tapestries presented by Louis XV adorn the walls. Between this and the Sala del Trono is a smaller room which serves to accommodate the Noble Guard, and leads to the pope's private chapel. The floor of the tlii'one room is covered with a specially manu- factured and costly Spanish carpet presented to Leo XIII. The room is simply fitted, giving a very impressive and restful effect.
Behind the tlu-one room stands the Anticamera Segreta, at the entrance of which a member of the Noble Guard stands. The old and very valuable Gobehn tapestry which covers the floor is practically indestructible, but is tended with great care. In this room wait the majordomo or the maestro di camera and one or more spiritual chamberlains, when au- diences are to be given. Here also wait the cardinals and persons of rank and station until their turn comes, while the others summoned to the audience wait in the throne room or in the other above-named halls. Situated on a corner, this room offers a wonderful view of the city and the Campagna to the east, the Piazza S. Pietro and the Janiculum to the south. Two smaller rooms and the Sala del Tronetto lie between the Anticamera Segreta and the pope's hbrary, which is both his working-room and his reception room for current private audiences. Not far from the entrance of the hbrary stands the pope's unpretentious, large writing-desk, beside which are some seats for visitors. In the middle of this large room, which is splendidly lighted by three windows, stands a broad mahogany table several yards long. The hbrary cases run along the four walls, and above them hang twelve exquisite paintings of animals. Other decorations and fittings of the room combine in perfect harmony; it is an ideal working-room.
Over the Anticamera Segi-eta, the Sala del Tron- etto, and the two adjoining rooms is the pope's private chancellery, accessible only by a staircase from the inner vestibule of the library. Here, under the pope's direction, two secretaries with a staff of assis- tants transact all the unofficial affairs of the pontiil.
Immediately under these working and reception rooms of the pope is the suite of the secretary of state, who imder Pius IX and Leo XIII occupied what are now the private rooms of the pope. Leo XIII a.ssigned this suite temporarily to Cardinal Ledochowski, when he came to Rome from the prison of Ostrowo. These neglected rooms were recently renovated by a Spanish ecclesiastic of weaJtJij'
