The Portland daily press., 1893-03-20
IN FOREIGN LANDS.
HOW We Went to See the Pope

ROME, Feb. 6, 1S93.-As soon as the
church festivities of the Holiday season
were over, strange as it may seem, there
began to appear an unusual activity in
the church at Rome. Satolli had been
sent over to America for the purpose of
bringing about more harmony on our
side of the water; and under his persua-
sive influence McGlynn had been restored
to the communion of the Catholic
church. The Rev. DR.. O'Connell, for
merly the Popes great favorite. and the
Rector of the American college for
young priests in Rome, had returned to
that city. The cardinals were assem-
bling from far and near at the Vatican
on some church business, and as we say
in general politics, there was great deal
of wire-pulling going on within the sound
of the echoes of st. Peters dome. Saint
making was revived, and each new Sab
bath had to record some canonized nov
city on earth, and one more glorified in
the courts above. For the time church
politics was becoming as interesting to
the dweller at Rome as the past political
history of Italy itself.
And now in view of the coming ami
versary on the 10Th of February people
were looking with more than their ordin-
airy interest at ST. Peters jubilee door,
which had for sixty-nine years remained
in the wall of st. Peters as solid as the
rest of the vast masonry.
Some of the Difficulties of Seeing the
Pope.
Gradually it was coming out from fell
low sight-seers that the most desirable
thing at present on hand was to gain an
interview with the Pope. Up to this
time this had not been the thing upper
most in my mind. At times 1 had con-
tempIated all the fuss and furry of
presentation to the Queen, but to stand
in the presence of the sovereign of the
church had hitherto been the least of my
ambitions. What should say to him?
How should l address him? What
would he do in reply? could hardly
shake hands with him and say chow do
you do" as one of our diplomats had at
one time done with a great ruler in a
foreign land, nor could congratulate
him on his success, since he considers
himself hardly conqueror in the Ital-
ian strife. We could not converse on
church matters, for it's most current gos-
sip had always been like the Volapuk
language to my benighted mind. And
suppose he should bless me-what could
I do?
But since it was the present goal so
many were trying to reach. why not with
others who might be so fortunate, look
at the man who, if Italy had not been
consolidated, would today have it in his
grasp, instead of regarding himself as
almost prisoner in his own domain, be-
hind the closed doors Of the Vatican.
But not every one, every hour of every
day, can at will cast his eyes and look at
the head crowned with humility and
holiness as well as with the ancient tiara
which has sat on SO many papal brows,
and so, as they say, there is great deal
of ''red tape' about an interview with
the Pope. For five years he has held no
public audience. and has never been
seen outside his own private apartments,
but in this Jubilee Year this feeble old
man of more than four score years,
comes again before the world, sacrificing
his own comfort for the good of his
church. And SO this seemed a partic-
ularly fitting opportunity to gain admit
tance to him. But there are many steps
leading up to it, and much previous in
quiry with reference to the subject.