The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-03
HEALTH OF THE POPE
SIGNIFICANT SIGNS WHICH INDI-
CATE LEO'S END is NEAR.
Daily Audiences at the Vatican Aban-
dOned-Cardinals Now in No Hurry
to obey Instructions.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 2.--The Globe-Denocrat's S
Rome correspondent says: "Rumors are
once more current here in Rome with re-
gard to the failing health of the Pope, and,
although it is probable that they will con-
tinue to be officially denied until he is ac-
tually dead, yet there is every reason to be-
lieve that his condition is far more serious
than it has ever been on any previous oc-
casion when he was reported ailing. Not
only have the daily audiences. which he is
so fond of according, especially to foreign
visitors, been abandoned, but, most signiti-
cant of all, there is that species of stagna-
tion in ecclesiastical matters which consti-
tutes the invariable premonition of the ap~
preaching end of pontiff's career. 1t is
due to very natural reluctance on the part
of the members of the Sacred College and of
the various heads of the departments Of
the pontifical administration to commit
themselves to any kind of action, and even
to any expression of opinion, which, while
pleasing to the present Pope, might dis
please his successor, and prejudice the fu-
ture head of the Roman Catholic Church
against them. The result is that as far as
possible the execution of the orders and
instructions given by Leo is delayed, and
tenacious as is the Holy Fatdher of his au-
thority, and strict in his demands for obe-
dience, they would not venture to act thus
If they did not have good ground for believ-
ing that the close of his reign is very near.
What is, perhaps, most significant in this
connection is the open manner in which
the various cardinals, and especially those
who owe their red hat to him, now con-
denim his policy. Indeed, there is not one
of them, save Cardinal Rampolla, the sec
retary of state, who does not see fit TO de-
nounce the latter as too advanced. And.
under the circumstances, it may be taken
for granted that the first step taken by the
successor of Leo XIII will be to inaugurate
more reactionary policy, one more in ac-
cordance with the old traditions of the
Catholic Church, than that which has late
ly been pursued by the Vatican. Indeed,
one OF the most influential cardinals re-
marked the other day that 1T would not be
long before the strains of the Marseillaise
would cease to resound through the halls
of the palace of the Pope.
1t is among the cardinals, too, and in the
society that they frequent, that one hears
the most stories about the failing mental
powers of the Holy Father; about his un-
fortunate administration of the finances of
the papacy; about his readiness to lend an
ear to any designing individual who may
submit some plausible but hazardous
scheme; and, above ali, about the remark
able decline of his vitality of late. Indeed,
20 listen to these stories one would imagine
that there had been a species of sudden
| collapse, mental as well as physical, on the
part of the Pontiff, due not only to his ad-
| yanced age, but also to the prolonged con-
| flnement within the Vatican walls of one
| who was born in the hilly districts of Car
pinetto, and who has always been passion
ately fond of mountain air and mountain
| exercise.
| One of the most serious questions which
| Will confront the next pontiff will be that
| in connection with the finances. AT the
time when Leo was elected to the chair of
| St Peter the Peters pence constituted at
| least seven-tenths of the entire revenues re-
ceived at the Vatican. To-day the receipts
| from this source have declined to the ex-
| tent of 20 per cent. from the figures at
which they were in 1879, and the majority
| of the Catholic dioceses in the United
| States, once so generous, have ceased al
most altogether sending Peters pence. This
| is attributed TO the news which has been
published from time to time of large sums
squandered by the Vatican in speculation
and in unfortunate investments, while the
repeated scandals that have taken place in
connection with the Peters pence fund,
notably the one which resulted in the dis
missal of it's treasurer, Archbishop Folchi,
have likewise had the effect of closing most
of the American purses to the .papacy.
Leo does not hesitate to ascribe this state
of affairs to Cardinal Ledochowski, the
prefect of the Propaganda and popularity
known as the ''Red Pope" in consequence
of his being intrusted with the direction
of the Catholic Church in all countries
where the state religion is not Catholic. The
cardinal on his side, openly declares that
IL is the POPE own IduiL II the Peter S
pence receipts have declined almost to the
vanishing point, and so bitter is the feeling
between the Holy Father and the prelate on
the subject that, on the last occasion when
the Pope received the sacred college, he
spoke to every one of the members thereof
except the prefect of the Propaganda for
whom he did not find single word of even
ordinary greeting.
Unless after the death of Leo there is a
revival of the Peters pence fund. and an
increase of its receipts, the Vatican will be
driven by financial distress to at length
avail itself of the annuity Of 900 which
the Italian government, by it's treaty of
1870 undertook to pay to the Pope, and
which has been accommodating ever since in
the Italian treasury, the papacy having been
until now of the opinion that to accept il
would be equivalent to a recognition of the
spolation of the temporal power of the