Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-02-13
Raaits' department.
Mrs. M. Z. GoRMAN. Editress.
Fredrika Bremer's Interview with the
pope.

Life in the O1d world, Dy FreuTlha :"
Bremen, has been issued by Peterson & :,
Bros, of Philadelphia. We make an extract. 8
During her stay In Rome, Miss Bremen had
an extraordinary interview with the Pope, a
an account OF which we present in her own !;
words: d
had now so often said, II will ask the :,
pope!n that | myself became rather curious y
az 10 what his answer would be, and / re-
solved 10 make my Joke earnest. | had al 2
ways regarded Pic Mono as an unusually 4
liberal Catholic, and his amiable appearance, !
az well as the liberal sympathies which he =
avowcd ut the time Of his ascending the Pom
tifcal throne, had won my heart For these,
and other reasons, | was glad to have an OPP
portunity Of a nearer view Of Pho Mono.
/ preferred my request for an audience
through our kind and ever.bcneyolent and
polite Scandinavian Consul, Cavallere Bravo;
and two days aterward, early in the morn
ing. | received a command to 60 that same
day TO the Vatican. The printed letter by
which this was communicated, contained
also directions as TO how | was to be dressed
namely, in black silk, with a vail.
At four o'clock, accordingly, last Sunday
afternoon, | was in the saloons Of the Vati-
can, to which ! was introduced by a young
mage in a scarlet silk dress. In one large
EOOUs WnauntnSN4 " WV = tf
several ladies and some gentlemen were
seated, waiting for their summons, they also
having requested audiences. The Pope, on
Sunday afternoons, gives audience, espe-
cially TO ladies', who are allowed, however,
to be accompanied by their husbands or
sons. We waited about an hour. | contem-
Mated the two large pictures, which occu-
pied two whole walls Of the apartments.
They were paintings Of a middling quality,
representing the revelation of EImmdcutdte
Virgine to Pho Nino, and Of his solemn an
nouncement Of this dogma in the Church of
st. Peters.
The persons waiting in the room were
called in to the Pope in the order in which
they had arrived. They went in by two's or
threes at a time. / was summoned to enter
alone, as ] had come
Before entering the Pope's room | had to
wait yet a little In a well lighted corridor
where two Cardinals politely took charge of
me. The oldest, still young-a handsome,
fair, very tall gentleman, with quite a
worldly appearance, under the ecclesiastic
cloak and cap (Monsignore di Merode),
talked about my writings, with which | am
sure that he was only acquainted from a
critical notice of them, which has lately APP
pearcd in a French paper, the Constitu'
tionnal.
He supposed that | was "a Catholic?'
Ireplied in the negative.
'Oh but you must become one. You
must be converted you must not stop half
way! A lady, such as you"-and so on.
He was interrupted by the summons t.
the Pope. entered, attended by Mon
signorc di Nerodc who knclt at the door
and then left me alone with "His Holiness.
saw at the further end Of an oblong light
and very simply furnished room, a man
stout but handsome figure, standing at a WI
ting-table, dressed in ! l2ng white carmen
with scarlet lapels and cap. | made one 10
10 me to advance, and get a third as / a
preached him and took my stand on the san
little carpet with him, which | did in acco
dance with the friendly, indication Of his wi
(For such persons as do not kneel to the POP
arc required by the ceremonial to make thr
courtesies or bows,)
The portraits Of the Pope are in gene1
like him, but his full, short and broad col
tenance has, when seen more nearly, less
preston Of kindness, and considerably I'M
OF selEwill and temper than the portraits
hibit. The glance of the blue eye is live
but not profound, and is deficient IN earnt
ness. The complexion and physique gen
ally indicate the best of health, a good ap
tito and a good cook.
The Pope cast his eve ON a written pa
which he held in his hand, and having
ouired about my country and place OF !
dence, added You have written somewh;
mdMsNTselfGmrYYss, your Holiness, novels OF
life, but in the form Of novels.
The Pope-But you arc a Catholic?
Myself-No, your Holiness-not a Rol
The pspc-Tes, ask It.
MyseiSi love, with my whole heart
His divinity ; in His rodeemino oagenoy
me and the whole world: I will oLn~"y
and serve Him. Will vonr JIol;,aND io y
knowledge me as = Christian ?
..ane f0pe-For a Christian (? Most
Myself-And as a member IF tbo M.
of Christi VI Tue Gnu
Inc Pope-fe-s, in a certain sense
-out tnen people must acknowledge no :
Seiy0n,ns winch this church saws and
JOINS. You ought not, in the meantime
believe that the Pope sends to he'll all =
20 not acknowledge the infallibilitv of
Oatholic Church. No, | believe that mo
persons OF other creeds may be saved
wing according to the truth which thew
wuse' believe so, most certainly.
Mysen-It delights me, infinitely, to h
sls rom your holiness. Because I h,
eneIisned the hope Of finding in your II,
ness a more righteous Judge. rs recar1s -
questions, than in many other Cothol
VINO say, "You are not n Cbr;stian. =
cannot be saved, If you do not, in all resncy5
believe as we and our Church do
Inc Pope-ln this they are wrong. 7
you see, my daughter, people shonld Ia =
10 give an account OF their Christian Lel;
not believe alone in generals, but believe
the separate parts ola doctrine. II is oIrc,
something to believe in the second person
the 6odhead, and in His incarnation hn,
Is necessary also to believe in the institnt;,
which lie founded on earth, otherwise ,hs
can be in reality no faith in Him 4
people must believe in the Pope. The Pc
Is Christs representative on earth. Tn Sw
den, the people do not believe on Christ !,
ms church the EXTREMIST intolerance :,
ISIS toward those who think differently
themselves. The King there has twice ,
ueayOred to introduce religious freedom, /
they would not have II :
MyseliEI know it, your Holiness b
sweden IN former times has suffered e.,
Oatholics in the country, and old laws =
remain unrepealed in consequence r.,
Will not be long so, / hope. NV co,n,
men VIII learn to have confidence n tho ~
er Of truth and Of Christianity. ~
The Pope-Your ~reigning Oueen e "a,