The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-30
THE POPE EVERY DAY
DUTIES AND RITES WHICH TAKE UP
AL OF HIS TIME.

A
ing he rises, his faithful body servant
Contra, knocking at his door at that hour
winter and summer. AT Z he says hi,
mass, which Is served by two of his pri
vate chaplains--the pope having six chap
lains-and then he hears another, called
the mass of thanksgiving, celebrated by
one of his chaplains and occasionally by
one Of his secretaries.
After these two daily masses the pope
breakfasts. This is very simple meal,
consisting all through the year of simple
coffee and milk, with bread, and nothing
more. Then his receptions begin. First
bf all, as general rule, he receives Cardi-
nal Rampolla. the secretary of state. He
presents to the pope the documents re-
ceived at his Office III day before, or those
which should be furnished with the sig
nature of the pope, and which should be
dispatched TO their destination during the
day. This audience which lasts over an
hour, and which Is, ms one may well i'm
agine, of the profoundest interest, does
not take place on Tuesday or Friday. On
these days the pope receives the embassa-
dors and ministers, representatives of for
eign governments to the holy see. When
there are documents on these days to be
signed by the pope, they are brought by
the under secretaries Of state.
The second reception Of the day Is given
to cardinals, the heads of ecclesiastical
congregations, the generals of religious or
ders and personages or dignataries hav-
ing special business with the holy see.
After this reception, if the season is win
ter and tho weather happen to be good,
the pope interrupts the course of audi
ences in order to take walk for half an
hour or SO in the Vatican gardens.
At o'clock the pope dimes, following
In this the custom of the Romans. This
is the ordinary rule, but il happens, espe-
cially when there are many receptions or
audiences to be granted, that he remains
till 2 or even o'clock before dining. The
severe simplicity which marked the break
fast is followed i'm the dinner This con-
sists of soup, nearly always of some form
OF macaroni; of plate of meat, with an
accompaniment of fried potatoes or other
vegetables. Then follows fruit, Of one
sort, and this completes the meal The
pope never eats boiled meat or forced meat
or cheese. He drinks little wine, old
Bordeaux, which is supplied to him from
south of France. As general rule, the
pope reads the newspapers during his din
ner.
Leo XIII eats always alone, IA etiquette
requires. When he wishes TO show special
favor to Roman prince or some person
age of distinction, he invites him to coll
lation, which consists of coffee and milk
taken with him after mass. In order, be-
sides, TO obtain this favor it is necessary
that the person may have had the honor
OF being admitted to the pope's mass and
OF having received communion from his
hands. This of itself is a great distinc-
tion, but it does not necessarily imply the
other-of being invited TO breakfast with
him. In the latter case small table is
prepared for the guest beside that of the
pontitf When the late Cardinal Pecci,
brother of Leo XIII, lived in the Vatican,
he frequently wenrto the pope when din
ing, but only 10 keep him company. 1t
was quite touching TO hear the cardinal
speak of Leo XIII. There was look of /
in his face, as, with "bated |
breath, he referred to "my brother, the /
sovereign pontiff"
After dinner Leo Mi rests for about |
IN hour in an armchair He does not fol-
low the Roman custom Of sleeping in the
afternoon. His activity and nervous en-
ergy are too great to submit to this In
iced even at night his slumbers are fire.
luently broken. After this rest he takes
4 walk in the garden, provided the wealth
sr Is good. These walks are made in COM
,any with a cameriere segrelo--an ecclesi-
lstic-and a lieutenant Of the Noble
guards. When he is tired of walking, he
Enters carriage and is driven in the gar
len. The carriage drive is a little over
nile in length
On his return from his walk or drive he
lgain gives audience or receives his secre-
aries and sets to work. About in the
vening he takes a cup Of broth and tiny
lass of Bordeaux.
The audiences continue in the evening
rom till 10. This rule of action is liza
lie to be broken in upon at times, for
ow and again the pope retires alone into
is study TO prepare his work for the fol-
owing day. His mode Of preparing briefs
Tas special. In later years, since age has |
endered his hands unsteady, he writes
title in comparison with what he was in
ne habit of writing. His handwriting is
an unusual neatness and clearness. IL
esembles print more than writing, and il
GEMS TO have been always thus legible.
have seen several letters written by him
lille arch bishop of Perugia, and they are
lodels OF penmanship. II was his GUS
I'm during the early years of his pontif-
'te to prepare the framework of his briefs
: letters and give them over TO a secreta-
7 to be filled up. In these abstracts GER
lin words were used with a special aim,
nd the pope always expected that these I
ords should be retained IN the completed
nplifcation Of the letter. On one occa-
ON the completed document had been
inded to him, and reading it he missed
he of these selected words The secreta-
was called and asked what had become
the word referred to. His answer was
at he had employed a word which he
ought better fitted for the sentence. I
The pope administered very severe re-
oof TO the secretary, informing him that
g missing word had been selected after I
ry serious thought. aud on no account /
ould IL be omitted. A
In the early years OF his pontificate, ,
so, Leo AllI was given 90 writing far :
to the night. and Iremember hearing \
e day that at 6 o'clocl that morning he \
ii found aglppfa uitk Ifa head IN tho | \