The San Francisco call., 1903-09-23
GIBBONS TALKS
Of PAPAL POLICY
Plus < Deeply Inter-
eSted in American
Institutions.
Cardinal Receives a Warm
Welcome Home by Dele
cation From Baltimore.

NEW YORK. Sept. 22.-Cardinal Glib
bons arrived here to-day on the Kaiser
Wilhelm der Crosse A delegation Of
priests and laymen from Baltimore went
down the bay on a revenue cutter to greet
him and welcome him home.
Heading the delegation were Rev. DR..
J. D. Stafford of Washington and Rev. B.
Singleton of Baltimore and R. B. Tib-
bett Of Baltimore, supreme president of
the Catholic Benevolent Lodge.
The Cardinal Will remain in this city, a
guest at the home Of Mrs. Kelly Of
Brooklyn, until Friday. when he will ac-
company the delegation to Baltimore.
When the welcoming party boarded the
Kaiser Wilhelm off quarantine Mr.. Tib-
bett made an address of welcome, to
which the Cardinal briefly responded.
Another reception awaited the Cardinal
when he went ashore at Hoboken. The
pier was crowded with ecc!esiasti
friends from this city. This afternoon the
Cardinal went TO Brooklyn. lie had a
pleasant voyage and he said the ocean
trip had recuperated his strength. which
had been greatly taxed by the severe spell
Of fever he suffered. due to the intense
heat in Rome during the progress of the
conclave.
OF the new Pontiff the Cardinal spoke
in terms Of the greatest enthusiasm. He
said that the choice of the conclave had
been most happy from an American view
point. as Plus X was deeply interested in
the development Of the church in this
country and was singularly familiar with
American institutions. The Cardinal had
several lengthy interviews with the Pope
regarding church affairs in this country.
The Cardinal was not inclined to dis
cuss the probable policy of the new papal
regime, but said that no radical changes
in American church administration would
ensue. He said that one Of the first steps
by Plus was 10 instruct his acting Secre-
tary of State, Mgr. Merry del Val. TO pro-
vide for an extensive exhibit OF the Vati-
. can treasures at the st. Louis Exposi-
ton. He said the exhibit would probably
comprise some Of the magnificent jubilee
gifts of the late Pontiff and number of
rare historical manuscripts and maps
from the Vatican library relating TO the
early settlement and mission work in the
louisiana purchase territory, most of
which was penetrated by Catholic mis-
sionaries within a quarter Of a century
OF the discovery of the continent
Asked about the possibility of another
American Cardinal being appointed, Car
dinal Gibbons answered: There will be
me TO see the number Of American Car
dinals augmented in the near future But
there is absolutely no truth in the cabled
statement that the Pope purposes to
create a patriarchate for the Occident
The statement is ridiculous"
To the Passionist Fathers the Cardinal
brought a special blessing from Pope
Plus Y in response to the message Of love
and congratulation sent to the Pope by
them at the time Of his election.
Concerning the probable relations be-
tween the new Pope and the Italian Gov
ernment, Cardinal Gibbons said:
The Pope as Patriarch or Venice was on
very friendly terms with the King, but what a
man does when he IS a mere private in the
ranks, 50 TO speak. and when he is elevated
70 power and responsibility are wholly different
things. What Plus y will do in this matter
is. Of course. unknown. You may rely on it,
however, there will be TO sudden change
Those things are not done in a way to attract
attention II a change does take place IL will
be gradual change. The friendliness between
the Vatican and the Quirinal viii grow
Plus Y is not the Patriarch OF Venice and
while he may retain his friendly feelings for
the King. these feelings will cause no sudden
change OF papsl policy, but viii probably in
the course Of time bring about improved re-
latcnship and e better state Of things The
King, I believe. is Influenced by very friendly
feelings toward the Pope.