At six o'clock mass began at SS.

Apostoli, lasting for more than two hours.

At its close the celebrant was handed a plate on which were the sacred flints, and these he struck with a steel in view of the congregation, thus igniting a taper.

The candle, in an ancient copper porta fuoco surmounted by a dove, was then lighted, and the procession of priests started off for the cathedral with their precious flame, escorted by a civic guard and various standard bearers.

Their route was the Piazza del Limbo, along the Borgo SS.