Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1909 — VATICAN LION ESCAPES [ARTICLE]

VATICAN LION ESCAPES

Pope Smiles When Told of Danger That Was Near Him. Rome, March 2. —An authoritative report from the Vatican says that while the pope was in prayer at the Lourdes shrine last Friday, a lion which had escaped from its cage In the Vatican, approached the entrance to the shrine and was only prevented from entering by guards. When the pope was told of the danger that was near him he laughed and said: “Even the beasts living in the Vatican must have absorbed some of its atmosphere and longed for freedom. But I don’t believe they would have eaten on the first Friday in Lent."