The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1897-08-15
THE HOLY FATHERS OUTING.


| Every year al the commencement of sum-
| mer. in other words, during the first few
| days Of July, the Pope leaves the palace of
the Vatican for his little villa or "viino, 1"
| which is situated in the most elevated pa rt
OF the gardens around his dwelling
This Is what is known as the ''yillegia-
tire Of the Pope. 1t lasts about month
and half, but every Sunday his holiness
| returns TO the palace 10 &c lie bra te mass
The yiilino is of modern construction a
species Of little palace built by the Archi-
tect Sespgnatsi, by the side of the old
! tower OF Leo Iy 1t is only on story high,
but contains nine rooms, which are all &c
| cupied by the Pope and his ecclesiastical
suite. The tower Itself is made into sort
of observatory.
When the Pope is in Yiliegiatare his court
is composed Of the following persons:
Mgr. Constantine, the private almoner;
Mgr caeiaao de Avezzedo, his master Of
apartments, Mgr Della Yope, fna jor domo,
and Mgr. Pifferi, sacristan and confessor
These are the four personal advisers OF
the Pope, and possess more influence at
the Vatican than all the cardinals put to-
ee'ber. They never leave the person OF
his holiness. and thus form his Immediate
encourage.
These four nonsignori are chosen by the
Pope himself and are among the most in
| teiiigent Of the Italian prelates II is well
known that his hcliaess has marvellous
j gift for analyzing and appreciating char
! acter. They are not 'Irreoonoilables" or
''Intransigeants, and consequently heyare
net too fayorably regarded by the majority
of tie cardinals.
or (apian., n A d.,
high aristocracy of which, so to speak, he
is the representative in the papai court
Mgr. Della yolps is Jesuit and his pres
ence in the nontifieal family is of the
utmost value 10 his order.
Mgr. CoDst antini is u skiIlfuI Latin Scholar
ard at the same time a thorough business
man.
Finally, Mgr. Phferi IS one of the most
important personages at the vatican on
account OF his position as his holiness
eoDfessor.
Bot If the four diYines form he political
family OF the Pope, his intimate suite is
composed of ether persons, including Mgr
Angel his holiness first secretary; two
second secretaries aud signor Contra, who
holds the place Of first valet.
During his summer holidays the Pope is
ayerse 10 having any one else AROUND him.
Cardinal Rampolla alone visits his holi-
pess each day in order to work an hour
or two with him on pressing business
affairs.
The Pope personally directs the foreign
policy Of the vatican and Cardinal Ram
poiIa is only the principal agent to carry
into effect his holiness orders.
The Pope leads in his villino very
different life from that of the palace
He rises at 5 clock in the morning says
mass, and then takes his first breakfast,
consisting or cafe au Iait and bread and
butter, after which he at once starts his
work with his secretaries. Ii is ordinary
correspondence which occupies the first
! portion of the day. At 7:30 his holiness
makes a short TIP in the gardens, usually
on foot ond supporting himself on the arm
of his valet, Signor Ceutra. Mgr. AyezZedo
accompanies him. He visits his vines which
he himself has planted, his flowers and his
fruit.
When his holiness returns To his vii
liiio he receives Cardinal Ra fnpolla, with
whom he then sets To work. Breakfast is
at half past / o. His holiness eats very
iittle-s0up eggs and sometimes roast meat
and drinks exclusively wine from his own
vine. After breakfast he rests for two
hours, and then i'll the afternoon he de
votes himself 10 writing encyclicals, apostle
lie letters, poems, etc. 1t is during the
summer that his holiness prepares nearly
all the encyelicals tina he publishes duIing
the year. His poems are the only things
he personally writes, everything else he
dictates AT 5 O'Clock dinner is served
and his holiness has another outing, either
III carnage or III sort OF hand convey
ance-portantina. After sunset he re-eIters
his dwelling, and, as a rule, goes to ted at
8. Sometimes, however, he remains work
ing alone in his private study occa
sionally his holiness plays cards with
Mgr. Angel, his favorite game being la
Scopa'
The persons who possess the entire con-
fidence of the Pope are Mgr. Angela and
Signor Ceutra, The former an able Latin
scholar and clever verse writer, but he
is also very Wen known in society, wherehe
is always welcome guest He was for
merly the Archbishop OF Perugia but was
brought by the Pope to Rome. He is
still young and unquestonably has great
ecclesiastical future before him. Signor
Ceutra is the Pope's private valet, an cid
servant who followed his holiness to Brus-
sells, PefuSia and Rome, having been with
him about thirty years. Signor Ceutra
never leaves his holiness for one moment
lie cps in "a room adjoining that of
the rope, and frequently rises during the
night To see II his master is W ell and sleeIl-
ing, orin need Of anything. Few persons at
the vatican are a. influential as Sicpor
Ceutra, and consequently everybody who
has need of assistance, or, indeed, of any
thing from the Pope, seeks to make his
acquaintance.
during the summer holidays the Pope
gives no reception unless in exceptional
cases. This year, for instance he made an
exception to his general rule, by receiving
all the girl pupils of the College of the
Saere Occur, among whom was his niece
Slgnorina Pecci. This young girl was de
slrous or presenting to his holiness all her
friends, and the Pope agreed to receive
them, and entertained them at breakfa st in
his garden. His holiness was not present
himself at this breakfast, but he came out
somewhat later. and then the young girls
sang in his honor a choral ode, while sew
eral Tecited pieces of poetry in Italian and
French New Jork journal.
Mr.. WelimaD's Observations.
Trustworthy statistics as to a voyage with
To-.