The Irish standard., 1893-09-02
POPE LEO'S ENVOY
A Non Catholic Sketches Mgr. Sa-
toll, the Papal Ablegate, in
an Interesting Style.
HIS PERSONAL MAGNETISM

He Can Write English Remarkably
/ Well and is Familiar With
American History.
Under the head of ''The American
Pope" writer in the Chicago Inter
Ocean, who is apparently Protestant
gives All interesting pen-picture of Mgr
Satolli, from which the following is taken
Now that the trip of the apostolic dele
gate, Mgr Satolli, through the country
is ended, and he has been deemed to
have sufficiently acquainted himself with
the territorial limit of his ecclesiastical
jurisdiction, the "papal suite' at the
Cathoic university's divinity building in
Washington is being renovated for the
italian prelate's occupancy, and the re-
suit of his visit to Archbishop Corrigan
is affording the latest morsel of gossip
relative TO him. a heavy consignment
of books upon canon law has just come
from the Vatican and is being placed
upon the book shelves of the delegated 8
office under the supervision of Rev. Hec-
tor Papi. A voluminous report of Mgr.
Satolli's trip and it's results is nearly
completed and goes to the Vatican as
soon as Secretary Sbaretti affixes his sig
nature. It will be unique as the first
ecclesiastical exposition of our country S
resources ever made from the pspal point
OF view, and interesting, moreover, owing
to young Mgr. Sbaretti's enthusiasm re-
garding his subject. he considers our
republic the most wonderful example OF
prosperity, enlig ghtenment, and intelli-
gence that history affords. His interest
in America has prompted the university
students to present him with numerous
histories of the United States, and these
he diligently peruses. He is collecting,
it Is. .und derstood, to forward to the Vatl-
can, miniature paintings Of all the Presi-
dents from Washington down.
Mgr. Satolli has had so many cases
presented to him IN his official capacity
that his court will be full of litigants for
some time to come. An impression
prevails even among Catholics that the
parties to these suits are necessarily hav-
| ing a quarrel. AS rule this is not so.
For instance, a question of policy or pre-
cedent will arise in diocese affecting
either parochial school, society in a
parish, or matter of churchly discipline.
It is natural for priests to differ in carry
ing on the work of their respective par
ishes; but obviously bishop can not
have one parish sanctioning certain
organization because it is not deemed
non Catholic, while in another parish the
same organization is condemned because
it is non. Catholic. When, therefore, the
pastors of these churches present differ
ent views of the same matter to their
bishop, the whole subject is referred to
the apostolic delegate. The so-called
contests" referred to Mgr. Satolli are in
nine cases out of ten not contests at all,
but formal requests emanating from both
priest and bishop to decide vexed ques-
tion one way or the other. The ablegate
might be termed sort of ecclesiastical
judicial officer whose authority is just as
limited in it's way as is bishops. The
impression that Mgr. Satolli comes here
as q hierarc' ia1 despot or something of
the sort is absurd. He SIMPLY maintains
court for the settlement of ec"lesiasti-
cal suits. The litigants have their coun-
sci. Arguments and briefs are presented
as IN court of law. The proceedings
and decisions of the court are recorded
and forwarded to Rome. The latter
function is exercised by Mgr. Sbaretti
who, because he acts, by virtue of his
Office, Independently of the ablegate, was
stated by some to be papal spy upon
Satolli. The Stiffness of this statement
must be apparent when it is considered
that unless Mgr. Sbaretti could act inde-
pendently he would be merely Satolli's
clerk, whereas now there must be no
doubt that his reports can be influenced
by nothing but his own sense Of fairness
and there can be no grounds for impugn-
ing their accuracy when they reach
Rome. Rev. Hector Papi might be
termed the papal attache of the court.
Mgr. Satolli has no personal servant.
When he wants anything done he usually
does it himself. He rises usually at 5
o'clock every morning His attire is the
black habiliment affected by the Roman
Catholic priesthood, set of by the round
white collar and black breast piece. In
doors he wears the gown. For street
wear he dons long black frock coat,
black square toed shoes, and low. round
crowned, soft black hat. His trousers do
not descend much below his shoe tops,
and the mans whole appearance evinces