1.
GV EXT. BASILICA
0.13

2.
MV NUNS AWAITING ARRIVAL OF CARDINALS
0.16

3.
GV CARDINAL SILVA AND CARDINALS MAURICE ROY OF CANADA AND FERRETTO OF ITALY ARRIVE BY HELICOPTER
0.24

4.
MV CARDINALS STEEPING FROM HELICOPTER (2 SHOTS)
0.37

5.
MV THE THREE CARDINALS WALKING TO THE BASILICA (2 SHOTS)
0.46

6.
TV & CU CARDINALS ENTERING THE BASILICA
0.54

7.
SV INT. CEREMONY AT THE CONSECRATION OF THE ALTAR IN PROGRESS
0.59

8.
CONGREGATION
1.07

9.
MV CARDINAL SILVA CONSECRATING THE ALTAR (3 SHOTS)
1.24



Initials WB/S/CR/JM WB/S/CR/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE PAPAL LEGATE TO THE 11TH MARIAN CONGRESS, BEING HELD IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, CARDINAL RAUL SILVA HENRIGUEZ (OF SANTIAGO, CHILE) WAS AMONG HIGH CATHOLIC DIGNITARIES WHO TOOK PART ON WEDNESDAY IN THE CONSECRATION OF THE ALTAR OF THE BASILICA NUESTRA SENORA DE LA ALTAGRACIA IN THE EASTERN TOWN OF HIGUEY.

THE HIGUEY BASILICA, BEGUN IN 1952 BY THE LATE DICTATOR, GENERALISSIMO RAFAEL TRUJILLO, IS STILL UNFINISHED. BUT DOMINICANS HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTING SINCE TO THE COST OF ERECTING THIS SHRINE TO THE COUNTRY'S PATRON, OUR LADY OF ALTAGRACIA. TRADITION HAS IT THAT THE AREA HAS BEEN HOLY GROUND SINCE THE 16TH CENTURY ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH CONQUISTADORS, WHEN A PAINTING OF OUR LADY OF ALTAGRACIA WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN FOUND IN AN ORANGE TREE THAT WAS FLOWERING UNTIMELY.

EVERY YEAR PILGRIMS FROM ALL OVER THE REPUBLIC AND NEIGHBOURING CARIBBEAN ISLANDS VISIT HIGUEY TO PRAY TO THE VIRGIN MARY. MANY INVALIDS AND SICK VISIT HER SHRINE SEEKING AID, AND LOCAL REPORT HAS IT THAT MANY HAVE BEEN CURED MIRACULOUSLY.

THE THREE CARDINALS ARRIVED BY AIR FROM THE CAPITAL, SANTO DOMINGO, AND THE PAPAL LEGATE INDICATED THAT IT HAD BEEN A ROUGH TRIP. THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED BY A FRENCHMAN, AND IS IN THE MODERN GENRE. PILGRIMS AWAITED THE CARDINALS, WHO THEN PROCEEDED WITH THE CONSECRATION.