The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-19
POPELE0'S MENTAL VIGOR
REMARKABLE MEMORY OF HIS HOLI-
NESS AT THE AGE OF %.
How the Pontif Appeared to an Amer
lean When High Prelates Were
Given Audience on Dec. "a.
w. e. Curtis's Rome Letter in Chicago
Record-Herald under date Of Dec. %.

w. L. Curtis's Rome Letter in Chicago
Record-Herald under date of Dec. %.
Yesterday, at noon, Leo XIII formally re-
ceived the cardinals, ar~chbishops, bishops
and mOnsignori of the Catholic Church who
are now in Rome in order that they might
present their Christmas congratulations and
salutations to him. Not less than $50 per-
sons were present, including thirty-two
cardinals. Many of the ecclesiastics had
come from long distances, from the four
quarters of the globe, as is customary at
this season, bringing gifts Of great value
and other evidences of loyalty and respect.
An address was read by one of the cardi-
nails. The holy father responded with brief
and appropriate references to the Christ
mas season, bidding them welcome, thank
ing them for their zeal and devotion, and
promising them his prayers and benedic-
tons for themselves and the people they
represent. His voice was clear and strong
enough to be audible to everyone present,
and he spoke without apparent effort.
After these formalities all those present,
in the order of their rank, passed before
him and offered him their personal con-
gratulations. 1t was quite an ordeal. both
mental and physical, for a man of his age,
but he endured it without showing any
signs of fatigue. and his eyes were as bright
and his voice was as clear and as strong
when the last of the monsignors passed him
as they were when he first entered the
room. For all he had pleasant words of
greeting as they were presented TO him by
the cardinal master of ceremonies, usually
in the language of the country from which
the prelate came, except of course when
they were from missionary fields he al
dressed them in Latin. His linguistic ac-
complishments are remarkable. I have
heard it asserted that he is the most accom-
plished Latinist in Italy, for he not only
reads and writes Latin as readily as Italian,
but can converse In that language as fluent
~ as in his own native tongue.
THE POPE'S MEMORY.
His memory and his familiarity with the
details of business at the Vatican were
amply illustrated in his conversation with
several of the prelates. One OF them tells
me that when his name was announced
and he knelt to kiss the ring, the Holy
Father chung to his hand and, with a pleas
ant smile. said: Il hope you have not
thought me negligent because your request
for a private audience has not been grant
ed more promptly. My time has been so
fully occupied, and my doctors are so care
full of me. that l have not been able to
make an appointment for you. but l hope
To do so In a few days, and I'm sure that
you will have patience and not leave the
city until / have seen you, because there
are several things | would like TO talk 10
you about
The prelate was astonished that the SOW
ereign Pontif should be aware Of his eX-
istence. much more of his application for
an audience. because he had never seen
him, and supposed that all such things
were arranged by the master of ceremonies
through whom applications are made; but
II appears that the Pope himself sees
every application and usually fixes the
dates for interviews with persons of i'm
p~ortance.
If there were nothing TO confirm them
these incidents alone would contradict the
sensational reports that are sent out from
Rome so frequently about the physical and
mental weakness Of the Pope. The other
day he received a large deputation OF Swiss
Catholics and addressed them at considera-
Bile length. he afterward gave private
audiences OF at least twenty minutes TO the
librarian OF the King of Portugal, TO the
cardinal archbishop OF Paris, who was with
him nearly an hour, and 10 the editor or a
French newspaper. who submitted the man
uscrlpt or an article ne had prepared for
the Pope's revision or approval The next
day ne gave lengthy audiences TO the bish-
ops or Liverpool and Menevia. 10 a large
body or English pilgrims, and TO a number
or preiates who are spending the Christmas
season In Rome. Such is his programme
nearly. every day, and the interviews grant
ed py aim would be tiresome TO a person OF