A big crowd had gathered on the “Square of the Three Powers” when Juscelino arrived to the solemn mass of Thanksgiving at 11.35p.m. An altar had been erected in front of the entrance to the Federal Supreme Court. This Palace was covered with white marble and its ground floor had been extended beyond the main glass façade so that a big area of it was merging into the “Square of the Three Powers,” but at a more elevated level. The arrangement also used part of the concrete ceiling of the Supreme Court, sustained by columns, to protect a part of the altar. To the left of the altar were genuflection banks reserved to the three Brazilian Cardinals – D. Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcelos Mota from São Paulo, D. Jayme de Barros Camara from Rio de Janeiro, and D. Álvaro Augusto da Silva from Bahia – and to other ecclesiastic dignitaries, among them the Apostolic Nuncio in Brazil, D. Armando Lombardi. To the right, seated on a throne decorated with a rich dossal, Cardinal Cerejeira was waiting for the mass to begin. Other genuflection banks for the President, the President’s family, the vice President, ministers, ambassadors and guests had been put up in front of the altar, on the square. As soon as Juscelino took his place, the ceremony began. The Pontifical Legate put the Christian Cross on the altar, the same that had allegedly been used by Monk Henrique from Coimbra at the historical first mass celebrated in the coastal village of “Coroa Vermelha” (Red Crown) in Porto Seguro on April 26, 1500. The Cardinal had brought this crucifix from the Braga Sé to Brazil especially for this ceremony. Exactly at midnight, the Legate Cardinal began to celebrate the holy mass. D. Helder Câmara, Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro, explained to the assembly each step of the liturgical ceremony. At night, the Supreme Court Palace was a light spot. Beams of light from two powerful army searchlights danced over the crowd. The rest of the city was in the dark. The Renascentist Choral of Belo Horizonte conducted by Isaac Karabtschewsky performed the “Kyrie” of the “Crowning Mass” by Mozart and the “Credo,” accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of São Paulo. People prayed silently as they were moved by the enchantment of the moment. The silence was only broken when the ‘holy bread’ was lifted and the Band of the “Navy Fusiliers,” standing close to the altar, played the vibrant and martial accords of the National Anthem. People in the audience were deeply moved. At this very moment, all lights of the city – in streets, avenues, palaces, ministries, residences, camps – were turned on and the new capital emerged from the darkness, full of light, wonderful, definitive and eternal! The President, trying to resist his emotions, hid his face in his hands and wept. It was 20 minutes after midnight. April 21 had just begun. After the performance of Mozart’s “Gloria,” the Pontifical Legate spoke a prayer invoking “God’s protection to the new capital and to the Brazilian people”. So he did while praising the "One who is almighty in the Heaven and on Earth” When he finished his prayer, he came back to his thrown. There was a deep silence on the square, while everyone waited for the prayer of His Holiness, the Pope John XXIII transmitted directly from the Vatican. At midnight and 45 minutes, the pronouncement of the pope was heard from the loudspeakers: “With joy in the hearts, as children of the same Father, we use the inauguration of the new Brazilian Capital as an opportunity to say a prayer and to invoke God’s bless and happiness to the laborious and generous Brazilian people.” John XXIII spoke in Portuguese and one could notice his effort to pronounce the words properly. Interestingly, some found it easier to understand him than to understand Cardinal Cerejeira’s Lisbon accent. The pope did not speak long. He finished his speech asking God to bless Brazil for it to become strong and free in the evangelic light. He concluded by blessing the Brazilian people, in particular the President of the Republic and all technicians and workers who had contributed with their undefatigable effort to the realization of such a grand work. The crowd remained quiet for a while after the pope had finished his speech. The silence was just broken when the joyful sound of bells cut the cold wind of the night. It was the old bell from Priest Faria from the ancient “Vila Rica del Rey.” This bell had been rung in 1793 for the last time, weeping Tiradentes’ death (Alferes Joaquim José, known as Tiradentes, a national hero who had fought for Brazilian Independence and was executed). This bell had been brought from Ouro Preto and was put down on the square. That moment, it joined the symbolic voice of Tiradentes to the voice of those who applauded the new Brazilian Capital, a dream first dreamed by Tiradentes.