Tens of thousands of Catholics, non-Catholics, anti-Catholics, the crazed and the curious had turned out to catch a glimpse of the woman from China. Several vocal minorities shouted slogans against the new Pope, calling her Antichrist and Whore of Babylon, Communist and Subversive. A few smaller, more respectful groups staged demonstrations of support, a contingent of nuns going so far as to celebrate a Mass at the base of Castel’ Sant’ Angelo; the break-away group that claimed the right of succession to the Throne of Saint Peter for themselves sang the Requiem. Others recited prayers in Latin and admonished sincere Catholics to turn away from revisionist policies and irreligious practices which had made the Church a puppet in godless hands. Thieves of all sorts took advantage of this marvelous opportunity. The newsmedia gobbled it all and asked for more. Not everyone approved of this exploitation, but those who objected were ignored or shouted down. Worshippers and zealots blocked the Sant’ Angelo bridge and the police barricaded the Vittorio Emanuele II bridge in a desperate attempt to reduce the number of people crowding onto the north-west bank of the Tevere; they were not very successful and the crush grew worse.
