Inauguration; Damages Repaired Rheims, July 10.
One of the most impressive ceremonies to take place in France during the last years, was witnessed here today as the President of the Republic, "M. Albert Lebrun, accompanied by Mgr. Suhard. Archbishop of Rheims and Special Papal Legate for the occasion, solemnly inaugurate ed the cathedral here, thrown open to the faithful and to lovers of art for the first time in 25 years.
It will be recalled that the Cathedral, one of the jewels of Medieval art, was heavily damaged during the great War and more than 20 years have been necessary io complete the restoration work and consolidate the shaken edifice, M. Robert Marchandeau, Minister of Finance and concurrently Senator and Mayor of Rheims, M. Jean Zay, Minister of Public Education, Prince Louis LI of Monaco, many members of the Diplomatic Corps and more than twenty thousand pilgrims attended the ceremony.
Mgr. Valerie Valen, the Pope's Nuncio in Paris, headed the religious delegation which comprised seven Cardinals, wearing the "Capa Magna" of red velvet with a queue 12 feet long and more than 50 bishops and archbishops.
The Papal Legate, Mgr. Suhard addressed the crowd massed on the square before the Church and made an impressive speech in which he exalted the traditions of France which throughout many political vicissitudes, has never forgotten that she is the eldest daughter of the Church and has always appeared as a champion of liberty and of peace."
Finally, the official cortege entered the Church where a Pontifical mass was celebrated, followed by the Pope's personal blessing transmitted by wireless from Castel-Gandolfo.—Havas,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.