St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-08
A TALK WITH THE POPE.
Leo Kills Vietcs of America and Her
People.

People.
There is not ruler in all Christend0m
that is as easily approached as Leo XIII, says
Rome letter to the Baltimore SIM To be
presented to his holiness gentleman must
60 in evening full dress, sans gloves. A
lady goes dressed in black, wearing black
lace veil over head and shoulders, after the
early Italian court style, or the modern Span
ish mode. The lady also goes sans gloves.
The presentations are of two orders, public
and private, and generally in the morning.
A public audience sometimes embraces the
mass and afterward the personal
Introduction. 1 was presented by
Mgr. Macchi the chief chamberlain.
The pope was seated. He wore a cashmere
alb, made from the chosen lambs wool on
each st. Agnes day; fitting his body closely
it presented the outlines of a 1.-THE and some
what nervous figure. Around his waist was
a broad, richly watered silk sash, the falling
ends terminating with gold bullion fringe.
On his hands were white wooden knit mittens.
From and around his neck hung a heavy
gold chain, pendent to which was his only
decoration-the cross.
Thrown partly around him forming a
strong Reubenistic background was a rich
scarlet-glowing cloak Of wooden fabric.
This cloak was lined with purple and
its cape and edges trimmed with a tiny
border Of gold-bullion lace. On his head
was a little white skull cap. His feet were
encased in red slippers, with cross embroid-
cred in gold thereon. These slippers are so
made that they are really ankle covering
shoes, the upper parts being of white satin
lined with wool and fitting loosely. Thus, a
heavy expression is given to the feet.
Approaching his holiness you kneel and kiss
the ring on his extended hand He smiling
" requests you to rise and then enters into
an easy style of conversation in the French
language. At first he dwells on your name,
and if he has heard it before he surely re-
members it. To me he spoke of England and
by and by of America.
After pointing to the universities of Oxford
and Cambridge, with ''their still Pickering
light of England's ancient faith within their
precincts, - the pope turned to what he was
pleased to call ''the broad expanse of the new
world" He had read of Father de Smidt's
mission to the Indians of North America.
He had ever studied the missionary work in
that "great and yet undeveloped western
territory that seems to grow greater the more
our little knowledge of it expands
''The oneness of language in your coun-
try is potent lever on the fulcrum of your
united nation" said the pope, 'and the one
ness of American thought and sentiment is
great influence to perpetuation of this
unity. Your good bishops lately visiting us
emphasized these integral parts of great
whole, and may the Great Giver of all graces
strengthen this unity among you.''
He then asked me if / knew Archbishop
Gibbons. and on my saying I had briefly
met his grace for the first time in Rome, his
holiness, in most fervid and smiling man
ner, said over and over again, in these
exact words: 'Je Paine beaucoup Gibbons;
Ell Paine beaucoup, beaucoup Gibbons"
He then inquired if had seen the portrait
he had presented for the Catholic council
chamber at Baltimore, to be hung up, as per
instructions given, on the occasion of the
forthcoming meeting iu November next. I
said I had seen it He indicated that there
would yet be other portrait for another
part of America. He hoped Baltimore would
accept the one sent as small tribute of ''es-
TEEN for a once little Catholic colony, now
great city,, endowed with great institutes
of learning.''
The pope entered into the question of the
education of the colored people in America
with a marked interest, asking several ques-
tons which at once saw indicated recent
study of the Subject. In each case
of an inquiry being met with
an assuring answer on my part evidently in
harmony with previous answers from higher
authorities, his holiness said "God bless
the poor blacks; their souls are to be made
white, too. God bless them.''
The next topic was the marvellous spread
of religion in the diocese of Chicago. The
pope entered in this subject with much ami
nation in association with education, moral
strength, and material progress, speaking of
Bishop Feehan in high praise. Indeed, the
eulogiums passed upon America as "a strong
young giant of empire,'' as his holiness des-
ignated her, were only equaled by the praise
of the late visiting bishops patriotism, piety,
and personal dignity. ''We hope the Amer
leans will continue always Americans"
said he.
may here mention, in regard to the pub
lished statement of a bequest of some
s., 900, 900 by an English lady to the pope,
that there is not Vestige of truth in it from
to end. The pope smilingly said:
''Do you accept all you see in the London
journals in regard to me, however well dis
posed the ajority of them may be?'' I re-
sponded by saying my credulity had its limits
in these avenues. There is no doubt that
the pope has high estimate of the usefulness
of the truth sustaining press, for he said:
even true Protestant press can esteem
II only true, but press lending itself to fab
ricating falsehood Willingly is an insult to
and creeds.''