The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-08-29
NEW FACTS ABOUT Plus X,

| strengthen the claim that Plus Will turn out to
be even more of democratic pope than his prcde-
cessor. Regarding incident IN Cardinal Sar-
to's administration of the patriarchate of Venice,
which, the writer avows, is a true version some
doubt has been cast on its authenticity. This IS
the reported disobedience of the order of the pom
tiff to the cardinal to absent himself from Nenlce
at the time of King Humberts visit. Writing of
the cardinal while patriarch of Venice, the author
of the sketch in the Independent says
He was appointed cardinal i'll June 1893. and
was sent, after patriarch. TO Venice IL
is mistake mistake repeated in all the jour
naIs-to say that Cardinal Sarto the choice
of Pope Leo for the Venetian patrarchate. The
candidate at first selected by the Vatican for the
post was the general of one of the religious orders.
As he was not an Italian, however. the Italian gov
ernment declared that exequatur should be
granted to him under any condition. Another
name was substituted by the Pope but the new
nominee met with no favor, either from the poo
pie or from the government Then recourse was
had to Sarto, who had given proof of great tact,
polite temper and SAVIOR faire generally at Man
tua, especially in his intercourse with members of
the royal family, who possessed an estate close
to the city There opposition at the out
set OH the part of the government. But an inn
portant question arose to the right of patron
age. The King claimed that as heir to the re-
public Of Venice, he was privileged to nominate
candidate to the Holy See. The Pope insisted
that this right had lapsed when Venice lost its
independence Commissions were sent to Vienna
to investigate the archives, but the question was
never solved. It a pretty quarrel. although
the matter had no real Importance, as the royal
patronage had by this time been reduced to a mere
fiction nearly all of Italy. Cardinal Sarto got
his eXequatur, and the storm that set the quiet
waters around the Lido raging for a while is now
chiefly remarkable because it brought him for the
hrst time into prominent notice at Rome. He
showed immense ability and energy in safeguard
ing the rights of the Holy See and repeIling the
assaults of the Italian ministry. He proved also
that he could be as independent of the Vatican as
of the Quirinal with respect to questions which
had to be decided by his own conscience as the |
ultimate tribunal. When 1t was known that King |
l1umbert about to visit Venice, Pope Leo init
mated to him forcibly that he should absent him
self from his episcopal city on the occasion. The |
Venetian patriarch, though comprehending the del
cacy of the situation, determined not to obey. He I
ook the first opportunity to pay formal visit
% the Italian monarch, and explained his posi- !
ion frankly and the instructions he had received |
Some portions of the dialogue between prince and
orelate leaked out and were much discussed The
Vatican was discontented and Sarto went to Rome
o justify himself. His vndication of his loyalty
IS churchman must have been eminently salts
actory to Leo, for it is believed that after that
interview the late Pope first entertained the con
lotion that Cardinal Sarto would be his sue
essor.
"The present King of Italy seems to have in
erited his fathers esteem and affection for the
'atriarch of Venice On his visits to the city he
as issued orders that, no matter to whom he was
living audience, Cardinal Sarto should be at once
shered into his presence on his arrival But the
ardinal, with equal good sense and good taste,
as always disregarded the entreates of the court
shers, and remained in the anteroom until the
.ing's visitor had taken his leave: a mere affair
f department but perhaps supplying the key TO
haracter whose elemental basis is simplicity and
aracity. His dislike to display of every sort was
Shibited Immediately on his accession He refused
atty to be carried to the Sistine chapel in the
eda gestatoria, a breach of ancient custom so
that to some venerable chamberlains
the Vatican it must have foreshad9wed the {
ownfa of the Papacy or the coming of the last
ldglneU. ne TOOK MS nrSt walk III the Vatican d,
ardens entirely alone and unattended creating.
is reported, feeling almost of CONSERVATION S
the gardeners and worbmen accustomed to see
e Pontif accompanied by long file of attend q
ITS Swiss guards and Noble guards-a cortege,
le must fancy, better adapted to the state than :
the comfort of the central figure. Evidently a I
mocratic Pope, not only in sentiment but in e
cry turn and twist of his mind and above all, t
lis habits. From some anecdotes recorded of il
m he would seem, like his namesake to possess
e saving grace of humor-a priceless gift to
cry one, but especially so to one who will of +
cessity have TO meet a great many wearisome
ope. h
eve have said little of his administration in t
mice, but all acquainted with it appear to agree
regarding it as faultless "He has made Venice =
? rose garden of the church" says one cardinal A
; found the city seething hotbed of anarchy III
d antl-clericalism; before his patriarchate had OF
ted year the bridges and quays would be Gov Ell
ID with cheering crowds whenever he appeared u
his gondola. The liberals were as enthusiastic !,
his favor as the blacklist of the blacks proving a.
'haps that whatever irreligion there is in Tto1 70