Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-04-27
THE POPE.
what He Said 10 the Prince and
--.-L Rrineasn Of Wales.

fftucehh OA Whtebs
" The recent audience of the Prince and
Princess of Wales with the Pope was
granted at the desire Of the Prince, who
sent his request through the usual chan.
mel. The King Of Italy offered the
Prince his carriage for the visit, but the
Prince excused himself on the plea that
his visit to Rome was purely incognito.
The reception by the Pope is described
as most cordial, and the bearing Of the
royal couple deeply respectful. The
Princess was attired very simply in dark
blue. The Prince wore black dress
coat and lavender gloves. The Pope
was attired in his usual long white robe,
with small silken cap on the back oi
his head The Pope began the conver-
sation by expressing the highest admlra.
ton for the public and private character
Of the Queen of England, and, with the
slightest tinge of satire, expressed his
acknowledgements to those English min
listers who more than once had in the
Queens name offered him an asylum in
British territory. He said: lb
:" | have not left Rome as soon as
some of your statesmen thought. In
my life | am probably great deal more
happy than some who think they ought
to be more masters at Rome than my
self. am not afraid of my dynasty.
Who has charge of my dynasty is God.
He has charge also Of my inheritage
and my family. Do you know what they
are? The Church. can speak with
out offense to the Prince of Wales about
the instability of royal houses Yours
is safely insured in the affections of a
wise people. | can respect the English
people because they are really more re-
ligious in heart and conduct than many
a people calling themselves Catholic.
When some day they return to the fold
how gladly we shall welcome these err
ratio but not lost sheep.
The Prince and Princess smiled, and
slightly shook their heads. oh, my
children" resumed the Pope, " the fu-
ture has always strange surprises in
store for the world. Who, two years
ago, would have imagined that we should
see Prussian army in FranceY ven
ture to say your wisest heads thought it
a thousand times more likely that the
Pope would be at Malta than the Empe-
ror Napoleon in London. | am stripped
of my territories, but God, who tempo
rarily takes away dominion, can return
it hundred fold. may be driven out
for time, but when your children and
your grandchildren come to make visits
to Rome, they will still see, as you do
to-day, an old man, robed in white,
pointing the way to heaven to hundreds
of millions of human consciences.
The Pope referred to Ireland, and
spoke in warm praise Of the fidelity of
the Catholics of that country.
You see, Prince, what persecution
does. 1t does not make us worse Cath
olics Your Royal mother is now pur-
suing different course from her prede-
cessors toward that country, and she and
you will find that good Catholics are
always loyal subjects" He added:
/" Ireland would require all the watchful
energy of her devoted prelates; for, said
he, "the wolf, not of Professionalism, but
anarchy and infdelity, is abroad, | fear,
in the West. ~
The International was alluded to by
the Pope and the Princess the latter
with great warmth. 1t was agreed that
no association tending to uproot religion
and the ties of family had any chance of
taking root in Ireland. ....
The audience was more protracted
than the Pontiff usually gives. Both
sides seemed charmed with the inter
view. The Prince was made to promise
another visit before leaving Rome.