New-York tribune., 1903-07-13
SAW POPE LEO XIII.
Interfere Detailed by the Re0.
II. Il. Hendrick.

Rochester, July IL (SpeciaD.-The Rev Father
Thomas A. Hendrick, rector OF 81. BrluSel
Church in this city. a Regent OF the University
OF the State of New-york and now prominently
before the public as Bishop elect Of Ceou In the
Phtlipp,ne Islands, was admitted to a private
audience with Pope Leo XIII last August he
was the last Rochester churchman to receive
This honor and his description of it gives an
interesting picture of the ceremony. The Pope
I'm the course Of his conversation with the Amert-
can priest paid a high compliment to the Amerl-
can people, and also to the educational policy
of New-York State. With Father Hendrick at
the time was Richard Kerens. Of ST. Louis
Father Hendrick, in speaking of the audience
said:
Both Mr. Kerens and myself shall always
deem ourselves exceptionally favored In the
matter Of our audience with the Holy Father
1t is generally the case that applications Tor d
personal audience with the Pope are subject 70
delays. sometimes ten twelve days passing
before reply is received. Mr.. Kerens and my
self made formsl application August IL. and
were surprised to receive a summons the follow
ing day for a personal audience on August 10
1t has always been my opinion that the tact
that We were Americans had something 70 90
with this promptness in the consideration OL ouI
request, for another section of our party, Whlch
had been delayed at Venice and arrived n Rome
a day subsequent to our advent, was likewise
admitted after q delav Of only twenty-four
hours. The Pope is a man OF dominant will and
has 4 reputation for doing exactly the opposite
times he will refuse to permit cardinals an en-
trance to his audience ch0rcber for montn at
a time and just as often he will give tnstrucuohs
for their appearance when his strength Is nov
equal to the task. So you see that we had every
reason to feel gratihed at our success.
The ceremonial connected with an audience IS
not marked with any great degree OF formallty
We met at the entrance to the Natlcah oy
the Swiss Guard. in gorgeous uniforms, deslsned'
it is said, by Michael Angelo, and worn by them
ever since. We were politely requested 10 leaNe
upon table such things as canes umbrellas
c{o1I,, oa,7
ushered into a larger apartment, where our mats
were deposited Thence We were pioted through
a long succession of smaller chambers until the
anteroom was reached The persons preceding
us were closeted with His Holiness for brief
period, probably not more than a quarter OF an
hour. Our audience lasted for about that length
of time. AS I entered the chamber where the
Pope awaiting our coming was impressed
by its almost Spartan plainness. everything
was OF the utmost simplicity. Besides the Ordi-
nary chair in which the Pope was seated there
was not another piece Of furniture to be seen,
nor even a picture a carpet or a rug. The
outer Office of many lawyer or business man
is palatial in comparison to that little chamber
in which the head of the Roman Catholic Church
throughout the world received his children But
there need of such things. Leo himself
filed the room with his presence and magnetic
personality. His frame was slender ana
shrunken and his skin like fine parchment but
when looked in his eyes and felt their brilliant
fire burning through my very mind forgot all
else.
According to the usage, we kneit reverently
and kissed the silver cross upon the Holy
Fathers slipper. He then addressed me in the
pure and liquid Latin Of Cicero. He had heard
that I was a Regent OF the University Of the
State of New-York, and with that power OF
grasping the details Of unfamiliar things he
showed that he understood what this meant
The cause of education is Of the greatest i'm
/ portance TO the State" Leo said. land for this
reason bless every institution under your care.
I am much pleased with the great and generous
American people, who saw fit TO elect you,
Roman Catholic priest. 10 such position OF
! trust. 1t shows they recognize the value OF
4 Christian education. and because they have rec
[ ogniZed such qualifications in you, l. too, am
that by you the Christian education of
young boys and girls will not be neglected"
Leo impressed as a man of great kindli-
ness of heart simplicity of manner and tTe-
mendOuS reserve OF VIII power. There was
nothing Of ponderous gravity about him; the
contrary he seemed the soul of good humor.
He smiled broadly as he caught sight of a pile
of religious objects 1 had brought 10 him to be
| blessed. When I told him they were for my
congregation he murmuTed, Good goodr' The
Holy Father speaks with great fire and energy.
and gesticulates with italian freedom and
grace. Once he threw out his nand toward me-
in mine. He smiled like a father, pressed my
broader palm firmly and gently, and alleviated
my confusion. The master of the chamber, who
standing beside him, with difficulty sup
pressed a smile himself. but when he how
pleasantly the Pope received what he probabl
considered familiarity such might ex-
pect from Americans his expression changed
Immediately.
At the time Of our audience the Pope looked
ergy Of his voice and gestures and the fire In his
eyes impressed the beholder as those of man
Still young In heart and strength.