The Irish standard., 1901-11-30

The Pope is proud to sit upon a
throne given to him by the toilers Of
his own country. After while smil-
ing chamberlain in purple silk, with
respondent gold chain hung about his
neck, came from the inner chamber.
He chatted with Mgr. Rocker and my.
self for few moments, and then, open
ing the door, preceded us into the pres
ence of the august head of the Chris
tian world.
There, behind all the pomp and cere-
mony, sat a gentle old man with a
sweet face, and the saddest eyes that
ever looked out Of human head-the
quiet Shepherd Of Christendo,n. he sat
in chair of crimson and gold, set close
to a table. Behind him was a carved
figure of the virgin, and near it small
er throne. He wore skull cap Of white
watered silk, and a snowy cassock
flowed gracefully about his frail figure,
plain cross Of gold hanging upon the
sunken breast. 1t was a presence at
once appealing and majestic.
AS we advanced to salute the Pope
he held out his thin, white hand, on
which cleaned great emerald.
1t was the Fisherman's Ring, the
sign of Apostolic authority throughout
the world. We knelt and kissed the
outstretched hand, and Monsignor
Rocker, being Catholic, reverently
pressed his lips to the gold Embroidered
cross on the Pope's crimson velvet Slip
per.
His Holiness babe us be seated beside
him. There was q surprising vigor in
his gestures, and his voice was clear,
deep and unwavering.
"You are very young" he remarked.
II expected to see an older man. But
your nation is also young"
1t is hard to describe the delicate
courtesy and benignity Of Leo Kills
manner.
II have claim upon Americans for
their respect" he said, with kindling
eyes, because I love them and their
country. 1 have great tenderness for
and all.
"Under the constitution Of the United
States, religion has perfect liberty and
is growing power for good. The
church thrives in the air of freedom.
love and bless Americans for their
frank, unaffected character and for the
respect which they have for Christian
morals and the Christian religion
The Pope looked at me intently for a
moment.
'You are not one of the Faithful ~
he said.
II am what journalism has made of
me-"
'gThe press-ah, what power it Is
getting to be! The press and the church
should be together in the work of ele-
waiting mankind. And the American
press should especially be alnlable and
benevolent toward me, because my only
desire is to use my power for the good
of the whole people, Protestants and
Catholics alike"
"You are all my Children" said the
Pope, patting my hand like father.
"Protestants, Catholics-all, all-God
has placed me here to watch over and
care for you. l have no other aim on
earth than to labor for the good Of the
human race.
II want the Protestants of America,
us we'll rs the Catholics, to understand
me- The Vicar Of Christ is respected
in the United States, but 1t is not al
ways SO in Europe"
There was an indescribable ring of
pathos in the Pope's voice. His lips
trembled.
"Here we have in temporal control
men who feel nothing but hatred for
the representative of Jesus Christ and
offer constant insults to the Holy See.
Enemies Of God, armed with gov
ernmental power, seek not only to
grieve and humble the Holy See in my
person, but to utterly break down the
influence Of religion, to disolganize and
Obliterate the church and to overthrow
the whole system of morality upon
which civilization rests. The power OF
paganism is at work in Europe again
'"rhese are times Of social unrest and
impending disorder. recognize the
good impulse that persuaded the Ger.
man emperor to assemble the great
powers at Berlin and seek Il cure fol
the disease that afflicts capital and Ia
Dor.
"But there is no power that can dea
with anarchy and social discomfort bu
organized religion. 1t alone Gun restore
the moral balance Of the human race
The result OF the efforts which have
been made by nations to live without
Christian guidance can be seen in the
present state Of civilized soctetv-tlis