Hundreds of young German Catholics in the square shouted "Heil!", stretching out their right arms

Shortly after noon I found myself in St Peter's Square, among several thousand people. From the balcony of the loggia the Supreme Pontiff (Pius XI, Pope from 1922 to 1939) blessed the jubilant crowd. He was seated on that very sedia which, I was told, causes him such discomfort. Behind him the flabella were waving. In the large window to the right of the loggia the cardinals made a delightful blot of redcurrant colour. In the square, hundreds of young German Catholics shouted "Heil!", stretching out their right arms. The crowd waved handkerchiefs. This scene, so often described, is very moving, but I see no religion in it. Perhaps I am wrong to look for it there. Not at all.

From the memoirs of Julien Green, entry of 21 April 1935

German Catholics shouted "Heil!", stretching out their right arms

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