The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-31
MGR. GIBBONS FOR POPE
WASHINGTON MAN so INTERPRETERS
THE MALACHIAN PROPHECY.
Reasons That the Prophetic Phrase
Does Not Fit Oreglia or Svampa--
interpretations Too Liberal.
Washington Letter in Baltimore Sun.

Washington Letter in Baltimore Sun.
A twentieth century Jean Vatican inter-
prets the pontifical prophecies of the Irish
St. Malachi in favor OF Cardinal Gibbons.
the only American cardinal who has ever
gone to a conclave. The interpreter is
Francois Emil, one of the strangest and
most remarkable characters in Washington.
who, although known to almost every
Washingtonian, is man of mystery even
TO those who know him best.
He is seen on the streets of the city al
most every day with his tattered garments
and unkempt hair and with a number of
old newspapers under his arm, intently OBJ
serving people and the show windows. He
never molests, for he is an apostle of peace,
a devoutly religious man of the Roman
Catholic faith, which he brought with him
from his native home in France during the
centennial year. and dreams of the good of
mankind To the uninitiated he might be
taken for a tramp. His appearance bellies
him, for he is a peripatetic philosopher.
we'll versed in the lore of the old world and
familiar with the great problems of poll
tics. society and religion. He never accepts
| aims not even a newspaper, prefering to
gather the latter from debris piles before
taking it into the country to read and keep
in touch with the doings of the world
The distinguishing feature of his peculiar
attire is a remarkable headdress consist
| ing Of an American flag and a black silk
| kerchief and other mysterious pieces of
| fabric wrapped and twisted in way that
| would bring delight to the heart of an
| Asiatic Sikh. This conspicuous headdress
has won him the sobriquet of THE Man
uyifh he rhox, f<n
| will be remembered long after his real
| name has been forgotten.
SYMBOL OF MOURNING.
correspondent of the Sun met Fran
| co.'s on the street this afternoon. The
| strange Frenchman has discarded his
| threadbare headgear and substituted for Il
a newer fabric of jet black. and has fur
| Their embellished the headpiece with a
| crown and other emblems as a mark of
veneration for the dead Pontiff. The crown
| consisted of stripes of black cloth and the
| American flag interviewer about an inner
stuffing Of pliable twigs. An American flag
| with tinges of black drapery stuck out over
| his forehead at an angle of 40 degrees,
| fastened in place by the crown. or wreath.
and resembling more than anything else
| the dropped coiors of regiment In the
| center of the new wreath was a tiny cruel
| fix. visible only at close range
Francois was asked regarding his opin-
| ion on the coming conclave. He said:
Il interpret the Malachian prophecies i'm
favor of Cardinal Gibbons. The interpre-
| tation should be symboiical rather than
Pope Leo is 1gnis Ardens. which has been
| generally, and l think wrongly, interpreted
| as burning fire. 'Ardens' does not mean
burning so much as it does ardent. fervent.
very warm. 1t means like the interior of
the baking properly but not hot enough to
burn. This prophecy has been interpreted
| in favor of Cardinal Gotti, because of his
| piety. That would be more correct inter
| probation, because spiritual. 1t has also
been interpreted literally in favor of Cardi-
| nal Svampa, because he has a flaming sun
| as the device of his coat of arms.
| There two interpretations that j
would follow. The literal Interpretation
| would be 'feverish fire. That would be- oh,
| so very bad for the world. 1t would mean
| that there would be a disruption after the
choice Of the successor. 1t would mean
| tics, the injection of the blood of Nero into
| the modern world-war and bloodshed. The
| Interpretation i take is spiritual and SYM
| bolical and If the next Pontiff is to be
| chosen from the present Sacred College
interpret it in favor of Cardinal Gibbons
| because he in my estimation, measures ur
to my rendition Of the prophecy as ardent
faith as a return to the faith of ouI
fathers to the simple faith of the Saviour
and his apostles and st. Peter-the ardent
fervent faith which Cardinal Gibbons typi-
full volume, The Faith of Our Fathers II
| the prophecy is to be interpreted, as 1 think
it should, in favor of Cardinal Gibbons hs
| would introduce the progressive simplicity
of the American spirit in the church; he
| would have nothing to do with politics; he
would work for the good of religion and hu-
manity. He has lived elbow to elbow with
the laborng classes. His heart is with the
| mass of mankind. He would do everything
possible for the amelioration of mankind
through gradual reorganization of the Vat
| lean.
AMERICAS PREFERENCE.
| ~ think that there is no doubt that every
American would prefer the choice of Cardi-
nal Gibbons. That being so. there should
be no hesitation in expressing that opinion
The rules by which Popes are chosen come
down from the centuries. Neither Amer
leans nor any other persons other than the
cardinals themselves have a right to inter.
fere, according to the laws of the church
yet we may indicate our preference, and
that alone would have an influence, think
upon the members of the Sacred College
before they go into the conclaye Just as
Americans have nominating conventions
before holding presidential elections. Sc
America should nominate Cardinal Glib
bons by the voice of public opinion prior tt
the conclave. i sincerely hope the press
the clergy and organizations will, through
the medium Of the press. express that pref
erence.
1.-The prophecy for the successor of Pop,
Leo's successor is 'Religio Depopulata
which has been interpreted as meaning
the depopulation of religion or the exter
mination Of religion. That is too literally
The spiritual and symbolical rendition
would seem to me to mean the depopula
ton of religion through the elimination O
those of little faith The return to tn.
faith of the fathers through the election o.
Cardinal Gibbons would naturally durins
the life of his successor. bring forth tn,
fruits most to be desired-the elimination
| of all who do not have the ardent faith
and let US hope that this elimination n
the weak shall be by their becoming strons
er In the faith
Francois Emil baffles all inquiries regard
ing his past He says nothing worth men
| tioning of self but is enthusiastic aimos
to fanaticism in his devotion to his ideals
He has often said his personality is imma
terial, that mere satisfying of curiosity II
| that respect is waste of valuable time
One thing is certain he is not processes
object of charity. although a vagabond /,
appearance. There are many good people
mostly devout Catholics who offer to he'll
him. He needs but little to live on. an
| how he obtains that is mystery n
knows several trades and is an engineer o
considerable genius. He was born in Pari
about sixty years ago. but Will not tel
where, nor even where he lives. Instead, n
talks earnestly of universal peace and tn
salvation OF humanity, and for the i'm
provement of the sewers parks and monu
ments of the city. There are reasons for be