The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-08-16
PREFECT OF THE PROPAGANDA.
~Bx-Attache'sn Letter to CHICAGO rrib,,.

leHlllE, or without being able to boast
% piue blood and ancient lineage.
Juoglng by precedent his appointment
W the Office of project of the propa gan
IA VIII constitute an additional obsta-
cle to Gotti's becoming pope. For there
y no case on record of a promotion
from the Palazzo Ferrattini in the
J la@Sa di Siague to the holy see. Per-
maps THIS is because the project OF the
propaganda is too powerful and that
lae extent and character of his autho-
iitN are such as to give rise to jealousy
among his associates in that senate of
the Roman Catholic church. the sacred
college. Indeed, his Powers arc so vast.
SO little inferior TO those of the pontiff
himself that he is surnamed the red
pope by reason Of the scarlet robe
which he wears as cardinal. the holy
father being invariably arrayed in
white.
Not only the United States. but like
wise the whole of the western hemis-
phere, Great Britain and ireland. all
Germany excepting Bavaria. Norway,
sweden, Denmark, Switzerland. Greece,
and Turkey, as well as all Africa. Asia,
Australia and Oceania-indecd all
countries save those where Roman
Catholicism constitutes the established
! lnfidelium" to the ecclesiastical juris-
diction of the project of the propa-
sanda. They are considered as form
ing spheres of missionary activity, and
when 500 years ago or more the con-
/ gregation of the propaganda came into
existence, the direction of all the mis-
sions of the Roman Catholic church
was concentrated in the hands of its
project. There are but few popes who
have not added to the privileges and
prerogatives of this congrega ton, and
according to q bull issued by Pope Ur-
ban VIII its deliberations when formu-
lated in DEGREES and signed by the car
dinal project and by the secretary have
the force of apostolic constitutions, to
which inviolable observance is eXacted.
Since 1860 the headquarters of the
Propaganda has been in the Palazzo
Ferrattini, on the Piazza di Spagan,
gloomy, Srimy pile. which presents a
striking contrast to the modern news
paper offices. cafes and apartment
houses by which it is surrounded. 1t
is a perfect beehive of activity. com
priSing offices. lecture halls where the
students receive instructions. printing
Offices where religious publications are
printed in 80 languages, and last, but
not least, the museum among the
treasures of which is that famous map
of the world. on which Pope Alexander
VS. drew the dividing line allotting
one-half of this western hemisphere to
Spain and the other half to Portugal
not one rood of American land, how
ever. remaining in the possession OF
either of these two powers today.
The propaganda is not merely gem
eral missionary seminary for the whole
! world. but it likewise has colleges de-
pendent on it in all quarters of the
globe. maintained to a great extent at
its expense. For its revenues are
great-thanlls not only to the genero-
sity of successive pontiffs, but likewise
to the donations and requests OF Cath
olics in every land and cline who have
been interested in missionary enter
prise. Some five and twenty years ago
the Italian government, by Virtue Of
the laws enacted with regard TO ec-
lclesiastical property, seized the inn
meuse real estate holdings of the prop
uganda in Italy. But, While the rights
of the state in the matter are OPP -
question. the seizure could hardly be
called an act of spoilation. as the gov
eminent gave the propaganda in return
treasury bonds for the entire amount
of the price of the lands, which were
assessed at their highest value. These
bonds bear today an annual interest of
from 8 to ) per cent, which furnishes
the propaganda at the present moment
with a much larger revenue than 1t
was ever able to derive itself from the
real estate thus "confiscated."
In conclusion, it may be well to draw
affection to the fact that the new pre-
feet of the propaganda. having been
reared by the Jesuits- and having spent
the greater part of his life as Car
melite monk. is hardly likely TO enter
tain much sympathy for that element
in the American hierarchy which has
distinguished itself by its opposition to
the religious orders in the Unlted
States. and the fact that Cardinal V.
Vannutelli has been transferred from
the direction of the financial depart
ment of the propaganda to another
post serves to emphasize this impress
sion. At the same time it is well to
bear in mind that Cardinal Gottl
principal claims to distinction until
now have been as conciliator and as
Z peacemaker.