CELEBRATING THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HIS CORONATION YESTERDAY (TUESDAY), POPE PAUL VI ATTENDED A SOLEMN MASS IN ST PETER'S BASILICA AND THEN WENT OUT OF THE VATICAN TO PAY A VISIT ON AN OLD PEOPLE'S HOME IN ROME.

THERE WERE ENTHUSIASTIC GREETINGS FOR THE POPE WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE OLD PEOPLE'S HOME SHORTLY BEFORE LUNCHTIME. HIS ARRIVAL WAS TIMED FOR THE MID-DAY MEAL SO THAT HE COULD PERSONALLY SERVE THE FOOD.

DURING THE MEAL THE PONTIFF TOURED THE BUILDING, TALKING TO THE ELDERLY FOLK AND DISTRIBUTING ROSARIES AND MEDALS. HE SPENT SOME TIME WITH THE BED-RIDDEN ONES WHO HAD BEEN UNABLE TO MEET HIM INT HE DINING HALL.

NO LONGER "THE PRISONER OF THE VATICAN" THE POPE IN HIS FIRST YEAR OF OFFICE HAS MADE MORE THAN 50 VISITS OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE TINY STATE, INCLUDING HIS HISTORIC PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND EARLY THIS YEAR. VATICAN PRELATES FEAR FOR HIS HEALTH SINCE HE IS LEADING SUCH A BUSY LIFE. HOWEVER THE POPE IS IN GOOD HEALTH AND THERE IS NO QUESTION OF HIM BEING ORDERED TO REST, ALTHOUGH HE WILL PROBABLY REDUCE HIS ENGAGEMENTS WHEN HE GOES TO HIS SUMMER RETREAT NEXT WEEK.