The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-02
CARDINAL GIBBONS
RECEIVES PAPAL BRIEF
Prelate Shortly to Make
Document Public.
AID FOR THE UNIVERSITY
Pope Plus Commends Catholic Institu-
ton to Church and Urges
Its Support.
AID FOR THE UNIVERSITY

BALTIMORE. Oct. 2.-The papal brief
on the Catholic University of America. |
which has been issued by Pope Plus X, !
has reached Cardinal Gibbons and will
be published by the cardinal, who is
chancellor of the university, in a few
days. Cardinal Gibbons was asked
about the affairs of the university yes
terday. and in reply said:
II have received the brief on the
Catholic University from his holiness.
and will be ready to make II public in a
few days. The Holy Father calls on all
Catholics in America to give aid to the
university. both financially and other
wise. He commends 1t to all of the
members of the American hierarchy,
and asks them to do all in their power
to make IL success"
Annual Collection Probable.
This brief means much for the uni
Eersity. as II will at least insure for IL
financial assistance from every diocese,
of which there are ninety in this coun-
try. 1t is not improbable that in some
of the dioceses. especially In the richer
ones OF the East. annual collections for
the university will be ordered.
Although the university was canon
ically approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1887
and was shortly afterward opened for
the reception OF graduate students. it
has neither received the number of stu
dents nor the financial assistance which
it was hoped il would. Indeed, for some
years the university, it is said, was ham
pered in its work by lack of interest. if
not opposition. in certain influential
quarters The controversy on Amer!
canism" also interfered with the work
of the university at least two OF the
professors taking an active part in the
controversy for some time. one espous-
ing The cause of the liberals. the other
that OF the conservatives.
The PapaI brief, of course, was drawn
up by the Congregation of Studies. Of
which Cardinal Satolli the first apos-
tolic delegate to this country. is pre-
feet. and under which the university at
Washington has been directly placed.
and has received the approval of Plus X.
1t is understood the brief reviews the
history OF the university and comments
on the interest taken in It by Pope Leo
XIII The Pope then exhorts American
Catholics to assist 1t by genera S con-
tributions, and he grants special .ndul-
gence TO those who aid in any way in
extending the sphere OF its usefulness
First Words to This Country.
One of the features of the brief is
that it contains the first words address
ed directly to Catholics in this country
by the new Pope. and is one OF the
first documents which received his ap-
prevail.
If the Catholics of Germany are ~on-
graduating themselves that the letter
of Plus x to the Cologne congress will
in history begin the collection of docu-
ments by the new Pope, American Cath
oiics will not be unmindful that. with
the exception of the letter to the Co
1ogne congress and the one commend
ing the work OF the Opera del Con-
gressi" OF Italy, the new Pope has turn
ed his attention TO affairs in the United
States, and that his brief on the Catho-
lie University will be among the first
of his pontifcate.
Nor will II be a surprise IL the brief
contains some laudatory reference e
Leo XIII. whom the new Pope in his
Cologne letter styled 'of immortal mem
ory." The reference to Leo has beer
commented on not only in Germany bu
throughout the world. and one writer
was constrained to say that 1.-THE new
Pope possesses the ornament Of grea
souls, gratitude"