ABSTRACT
on monday morning, October 28, a simple and moving ceremony was held in St. Peter's. Pope Paul VI had long before set aside that day for a special commemoration of the anniversary of Pope John's election to the papacy. In no man's living memory had a special papal Mass ever been celebrated on the anniversary of a departed Pope's election. All the Council Fathers were present, together with the press and a large number of visitors. Pope Paul entered the basilica on foot with none of the usual pomp, and began a simple, low Mass on the small temporary altar erected for the daily Mass of the Council. The Mass was a dialogue Mass, the first any one could remember that a Pope had publicly said in such a simple fashion. The Pope was so moved that he fumbled the prayers at the foot of the altar, and had to begin again. The lay auditors were privileged to receive communion from the hand of the Pope himself. (There was, however, no provision for other laymen at the Mass to receive communion, not even from auxiliary priests. 1 ) When the Mass ended, the Pope went quietly to the throne erected in the usual place near the main altar, under the great twisting canopy of Bernini.
