The sun., 1895-01-22
TlLKED WITH LEO XIII.
Col George Bliss Admitted to the
Honor Of a Private Audience,
WHAT the POPE TALKED ABOUT
A Special Grace 20 New York Catholics
Interest In, ana Aanir.tion for. Anerics
Importance of the wsrk Bei-x Done
nv Catholic I.stitutions ef Educatio-.

nv Catholic I.stitutions ef Educatio-.
ROME. Jan. ST. learned accidentally that Col.
George Bliss had had the unusual honor of be-
ing received in private audience by Leo XIII.
Isought him to learn II he was willing TO talk
up,n the subject. In this matter OF audiences
With tho Pope there are substantially three
srades The one easiest, or rather should say
least difficult to obtain for none 10 easily obtain
.be now Is admission TO the corridor Of the at-
can. where tho Pope IL taking his exercise.
Those so admitted are at most permitted to kiss
his hand as he passes and receive his blessing,
hut with no opportunity of communication.
N.Y, to that comes the honor of being present
a, the Pope's mass, receiving the sacrament
from him and afterward kneeling at his feet
and having n few words of conversa-
tion This kind Of reception Is, OF course,
not for ProtestAnts, though some are
occasionally permitted to be present While Of
course. the Pope says mass every day. these re-
ceptions do not take place every day. but only
At intervals more or less frequent. perhaps on
m average twice a week. and the day is not
nxed till the night before, when n notice is sent
M a special messenger from the Vatican to
those who are on the favored list. The number
permitted thus to be present at the Pope's mass
IL limited 10 twenty-five. Tho mass is cele-
'brated in the small private chapel, and those
who are permitted to assist" as our French
friends would say. are in an adjoining room on
benches looking through the folding doors.
The gentlemen are in full dress the ladies with
wells. There are usually among them some
nuns, priest or two. and then members Of the
Catholic laity, with, as have said, occasionally
Protestant. After the Pope has said his mass
he makes his thanksgiving, while another mass
IL said by an ecclesiasic. After the close Of
al m w bn nt III in
turn, their names are given to the Pope by a
chamberlain. they kneel at his feet, and he says
few words to them, inquiring usually something
about them. always manifesting great interest
In Americans and also In children. who are &C.
casonaly presented. The Pope speaks French
very well. He does not speak English.
The third kind of reception granted by the
Pope Is the private audience. This always rare
has Lecome OF late years, with the Holy Fathers
increasing age, more and more rare, except. Of
course as it is granted to those having business
with the Holy Father. Bishops from abroad
are thus always received. But even priests
from abroad are received with difficulty. DIR.
Burtsell was in Rome six eight months en-
deavornG to get an audience but failed. though
this was Of course, in q measure due to
willingness to give even an apparent sanction
to the position he had assumed relative to Arch
bishop Corrigan. In this point OF view he came
10 Rome too late The position OF the Arch.
bishop had become too strong.
The first question put to Col. Blss was as 10
how he obtained his audience, but l got no
further answer than that he understood 1t pro-
ceeded from a desire to show appreciation OF
American Catholics. When | ventured to sug-
gest TO him with all humility that he was not
the only American Catholic now in Rome, and
that therefore his answer hardly met the case,
i
appreciation of New York Catholics. This
forced me to ask him directly IL there was
any truth In the story circulated In New York
fhtt he was hrre In some form as the representa-
tive Of Archbishop Corrigan. lie denied this
with the greatest earnestness. and added that
he did not believe the Archbishop had any rep
resentative here and that lie did not see that ho
needed any. From the atmosphere which seems
now to surround the Vatican could not but
feel that Col. Bliss was correct In this last re-
mark. However. 1t remains that from some cause
Col. Bliss has had the unusual honor OF a private
audience with Leo XlII
In reply 70 my question as to whether he
would talk about what took place at his audi
ence, he said it occupied about half an hour, and
that. while he did not feel that he ought to re-
peat everything that was said, he saw reason
WIZ ne should not tell of some things. As to
matters of form. he said. he was surprised when
the Pope, after the first presentation, asked him
o. get a chair and to draw up to his side. He
said lie did not know but that was the usual
way but had not expected 1t. On inquiries since
made know that Col. Bliss was wrong, and
that that is not the usual way. The latter added
that il was astonishing how completely the Pope
made him feel at ease.
The Pope spoke to Col. Bliss at considerable
length Of his interest in and admiration for
America. referring to the Chicago Exposition,
and adding that he was about further to show
his interest by a letter addressed to the Ameri-
can Bishops, which he said was ready for trans
initial. lie spoke with earnestness of the i'm
portance OF the work that was being done by
Catholic institutions OF education. He referred
10 the American College In Rome as doing
great work, He instanced also the work done
by the Catholic college at Louvain. Brussels,
and to that OF the recently established college at
friburg in switzerland. He then said that he
had great hopes of the Washington University;
that people had been very liberal to II, but
that 1t must expect TO grow very gradually, and
thar the good 1t would do would spread more and
more.
II the Pope had anything to say Of mere per-
sonal character, either as To Archbishop Corri-
gan or Mgr Satoli, Col. Bliss would not talk
upon that subject, and was obviously desirous
- Sums NIt lHlpTeoSlOu tHht uOlhlHk was SttIu
III that regard, Ho said the Pope repeatedly
expressed mis- qualification at the progress Of
Catholicism in America and at the liberality
Of otAmer!cau Catholics. When told that he was
respected not only by Catholics but by Protes-
nnt' he seemed pleased, but said he had done
nothing more than his duty. and had only, so far
S America was concerned. acted out the feelings
OF hts own heart
The Pope manifested great interest in hearing
shout the church for Italians In Elizabeth street,
under the charge OF FatherRusso, called, think,
No're Dame de LOretto. He also inquired about
PRESIDENT Cleveland.
Ia reply 10 question as 10 how the Pope
~e'nrd To him as To strength. he said that he did
uo' move about during the audience, but that he
'poA' with strong voice and with good deal
fstr vigorous gesticulaton, which implied a
70" deal OF strength, though he added that
Nneh he was present at his mass month pre-
'"I'!y "e observed that the Pope moved about
Nn some difficulty. much more so than when
Ss 81" h'm in 1887. lie said the Pope's COM
b'eAlON Was that OF a well man and his eXpFes-