Pope Leo XIII, January 4, 1896 - First Time a Pope Appeared on Film

The short film shot by Vittorio Calcina in the Vatican gardens. The film consists of three parts.

In the first part, Pope Leo XIII, preceded by his secretary, enters from the right, leaning on a stick and sits down on a chair, followed by another prelate. Against the background of the scene, four Swiss guards kneeling with halberds held to the right welcome the Pope with a military salute and as the Pope waves, they stand up. The Secretary then exchanges words with the Pope who smiles and begins to bless. On the right, you can see a fifth Swiss guard, probably the commander (he does not hold the halberd).

In the second part, shot in the Vatican gardens, the papal carriage enters from the left pulled by a pair of black horses and driven by a coachman with the tuba. To welcome the Pope, some people kneel to the left of the carriage, which stops at the center of the scene. The secretary approaches and invites the Pope to another blessing and the carriage leaves the scene, escorted by three guards on a horseback.

In the third and final scene, Leo XIII arrives at church, welcomed by a kneeling prelate. The Pope enters, hands over his saturno to the secretary and sits down on a bench. He takes off his glasses and fixes the pileolus and starts to bless again.