St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-27
THE POPE IN HIS pALACEPRIs
The Daily Life and Personal Hab-
its of the Head Of the Catholic
Churoh

lGS VI Dt1c aCdu VI UIIO Odt1Ol1C
{ Church.
w. T. Stead in Pail Mall Gazette.
A very interesting picture might be
drawn of the daily life of the pope in
his palace prison. In some respects it
must be admitted that the spectacle is
almost ideal. Imagine pure. good and
able man, of more than three-score
given morning, after sleep as I'M
troubled as chiId's, anu setting about
what is in his own honest conviction
the discharge of his duty to God and
his church. by using his influence as
the vice regent of the Almighty to allay
the troubles of the world.
His authority, to begin with, is almost;
absolutely untrammeled. When Alex
ander Ill writes. he uses M. de GierS
as peer; Cardinal Rampolla is equally
the peer of Leo LII. Around the papal
throne are cardinals and archbishOpS
and dignitaries of great place; but in
all the brilliant throng there is no one
Who exercises any controlling influence
over the detached and lucid intellect OF
the pope. Occasionally, earlier in his
reign, they would endeavOr to bring
pressure to bear to induce him to adopt
" WIitCI was
what you say" he would reply. ssiS
very good, no doubt, but let it be done
in different way" And done always
it was in Leo's way, until at last the
cardinals deSisted from making fruit
less suggestions. He is so supreme that,
compared with the elevation which be
occupies, cardinals count for no more
than deacons, or even than acolytes.
. There are mutterlngS of discomfort
in the congregation from men
who once counted for something in the
church, but now count for nothing; but
on the whole, the sacred college recog-
nizes with loyalty and pride the COM
handing ability and authoritative con-
fidence of its chief. The pope, there
fore, has single mind, and he has an
immense sense of his responsibility for
The decisions at which he arrives.
Every morning, before addressing
himself to the direction of the affairs of
/ this planet, he offers the sacrifice OF the
mass. and then, for gratiarnm actio. at
tends second mass at which his chap
lain is the celebrant; with mind thus
begins his working day. A single glass
of coffee. tea or milk suffices to break his
fast. After going through his papers he
begins to receive at9, From that hour
till l in the afternoon throng of visitors
never slackens. Secretaries, nmbas
sailors, cardinals from the congregation,
distinguished strangers, bishops from
afar, have audience in turn. There are
1000 bishops in the Catholic church,
and with all of them the pope is in more
or less constant personal relations.
Nothing can he more gracious, more
animated, or more sympathetic than
the manner or tie pc. e. His eye,
which when fixed in thought is deep
and piercing, beams with kindness. and
the severely rigid lines of his intellectual
features relax with the pleaSantest of
smiles as he talks. using, as the case
may be, either French, Latin (Which he
speaks with great purity and facility,
or his own musical native tongue.
After four or five hours spent in this
way he returns to his books and papers
until 8, when he dimes. His meal is
frugal; a little soup, two courses OF
meat, with vegetables, and dessert OF
fruit, with one glass of strong wine,
suffice for his wants. After dinner he
goes out for drive or walk in the
gardens of the Vatican. In the evening
he resumes his papers, and at night, be-.
tween and u O'clock all the papol
household assemble for the rosary, after
which they retire to rest. But long
after that hour the cardinal state Seere-
tary, Mocenni, is often Summoned to
the papal apartments, where, by the
light OF the midnight lamp, Leo watches
and thinks, and prays for the welfare OF
the church.