Pope Leo XIII in His Carriage

Also known as Pope Leo XIII, in his carriage, passing through the Vatican Gardens with escort of noble guard commanded by Count Camillo Pecci. His Holiness is met by His Excellence, Monsignor Della Volpe

Filmmaker WKL Dickson, one-time right hand man to Thomas Edison, the 'Wizard of Menlo Park', here captures an even greater eminence, Pope Leo XIII. This was one of a series of films that exploited Dickson's unique, hard-won access to the Pontiff. Here the Pope arrives in a carriage and bestows a blessing. Whether this blessing was intended for the camera or for the audience beyond it, capturing it on film was a great prize for Dickson.