1.
GV INT ABBEY DURING SERVICE.
0.04

2.
SV CONGREGATION.
0.06

3.
LV POPE PAUL AT ALTAR DURING MASS.
0.10

4.
ANGLE V DECORATED CEILING PAN DOWN TO ALTAR DURING SERVICE.
0.17

5.
NEARER V POPE PAUL AT ALTAR.
0.21

6.
LV DITTO DURING MASS.
0.26

7.
LV POPE PAUL BLESSES CONGREGATION.
0.31

8.
SV CONGREGATION.
0.33

9.
SV POPE LEAVING ALTAR AND WALKS TO THRONE.
0.45

10.
LV DECORATED CEILING.
0.48

11.
LV POPE ADDRESSING CONGREGATION SEATED ON THRONE.
0.52

12.
SV CONGREGATION.
0.54

13.
SV POPE READING SPEECH.
0.59



Initials DR/V/JH/BB


EDITORS NOTE: SEE PRODUCTION NUMBER 9814/64 -- "ITALY: POPE PAUL CONSECRATES ABBEY OF MONTE CASINO" -- SERVICED YESTERDAY, 24 OCTOBER 1964 -- WHICH ALSO REFERS.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: POPE PAUL YESTERDAY, SATURDAY, CONSECRATED MONTE CASINO'S REBUILT ABBEY CHURCH AND PROCLAIMED SAINT BENEDICT, WHO FOUNDED THE ABBEY IN 529, PATRON SAINT OF ALL EUROPE.

ABOUT 200 BISHOPS AND BENEDICTINE ABBOTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ATTENDED THE CEREMONY, AMONG THEM CARDINAL STEFAN WYSZYNSKI, PRIMATE OF POLAND.

VIOLENT THUNDERSTORMS OVER ROME PREVENTED THE POPE FLYING TO THE ABBEY BY HELICOPTER FROM THE VATICAN GARDENS - IN HIS SECOND SUCH FLIGHT AS PONTIFF. HE CAME BY ROAD.

AFTER CELEBRATING MASS THE POPE ADDRESSED THE CONGREGATION. HE SAID THAT THE VATICAN HAD ENDEAVOURED TO SAVE MONTE CASINO FROM DESTRUCTION. "WE DO NOT WANT NOW TO JUDGE THOSE WHO CAUSED IT. BUT WE STILL CANNOT BUT DEPLORE THAT CIVILISED MEN SHOULD HAVE HAD THE BOLDNESS TO MAKE SAINT BENEDICT'S TOMB AT TARGET OF MERCILESS VIOLENCE. AND WE CANNOT CONTAIN OUR JOY TO SEE TODAY THAT THE RUINS HAVE DISAPPEARED, THAT THE SACRED WALLS OF THIS BASILICA HAVE RISEN AGAIN...," HE SAID.

MONTE CASINO ABBEY, SURROUNDED BY THE GRAVES OF ALLIED AND GERMAN SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN THE BITTER 1944 FIGHTING FOR POSSESSION OF ITS STRATEGIC HILL, HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT ALONG ITS ORIGINAL LINES.

THE GERMANS HELD THE HEIGHTS FOR SEVEN MONTHS ALONG THEIR "GUSTAV LINE" AND BLOCKED THE ALLIED ADVANCE TO ROME.

AFTER MONTHS OF BITTER FIGHTING, THE ALLIED HIGH COMMAND, CONVINCED THAT THE ABBEY ITSELF WAS HELD BY THE GERMANS, BOMBARDED THE ANCIENT CENTRE AND RAZED IT BY A HUGE AIR ATTACK ON FEBRUARY 15, 1944. THEY FINALLY TOOK MONTE CASINO HILL, WHERE THE GERMANS BURROWED INTO THE HILLSIDE, THREE MONTHS LATER.