The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-26
letter. for he talked as freely as II he
were not Pope and I were not Prot

letter. for he talked as freely as II he
were not Pope and 1 were not a Prot
estant.
Merry del Val. the young gentleman
who has just been made Cardinal and has
been elevated to the second highest posi-
ton in the church, Is very agreeable per-
son to do business with, although some
I times he isn't quite as ready to yield his
opinions as l could wish, and it was 8
sratification to deal with one who can
lalk EnSilsh, instead of having TO filteS
your thoughts through an interpreter.
am especially Indebted to Cardinal
Kampolla, Can dinal Satolli and Cardinal
MORAN or Australia, who has just started
on the long Journey to his home in Sidney,
Ro,oa aaia, AFTER three n1cnths' soj9uIn at
ttotne. several other distinguished eccle-
siastics gave me the benefit of their adj
wee and counsel and used their influence
70 70 secure the acceptance of the invitation
them We owe much thanks
Everybody about the Vatican was stag
gered by the audacity of the proposition
from st. Louis. for the Holy See has never
taken part in any exposition, has never
before been asked to take part in. one.
and has never sent a commissioner to any
secular assembly, while the treasures Of
the Vatican have never been allowed to
leave the palace for a moment for any
reason. IL they need attention men are
brought to them. The idea of sending
any OF them across the ocean to another
continent, half way around the world
was at first regarded as too startling to
consider And to ask for a Cardinal
Commissioner was even more preposter-
Gus.
Members Of the Sacred College are not
sent Sc a,f AROUND on such missions, especially
who represented the Pope at the Jubilee
OF Queen Victoria and at the recent coro-
nations Of the Kings of England and
and yet those Yankees asked that a Car.
dinal be sent to their Exposition. II was
extraordinary. A witty member of the
curia expressed the sentiments of all con-
cerned when he inquired why we did not
ask the Pope himself to come to st. Louis
with the ashes of st. Peter under his arm.
/ answered seriously that we certainly
would have made such a request had we
not known that 1t was impossible for him
to go; that the Americans know what they
want, and are not ashamed to ask for il,
and they never ask for the impossible.
And, as the conferences continued. it be-
gan to dawn upon the minds of their emf
nences that there was merit in the propo-
idea, after all: that it offered unusual ad-
vantages to the church: and instead of
treating 1t as an absurdity or an impossi-
bility, they soon began to discover meth
X
ed and reasons why il should he done.
Furthermore, 1t was developed quite
early in the negotiations that several very
eminent ecclesiastics-rDe who had been
mentioned for the papal throne-were not
only willing to accept the commission,
but were anxious to visit the United States,
especially upon such an occasion and nt-
der such auspices.
The traditions Of the church, which are
sacred, and the presidents, which cannot
be violated without embarrassment and
6unger Of unforeseen complications in the
future, forbid the appointment of an Off
cial Commissioner to secular function
Legatees are gent to such events as coro,
nations, but Cardinals are never selected
for such missions.
Their rank Is too exalted. Therefore, no
Cardinal or other ecclesiastic will be sent
IL any Cardinal desires 10 go and can be
spared from his duties In Rome, the Pope
will be willing 10 grant him permission,
aad viii Of 70 hafs MN WbeS
of course, all that Is necessary and does
not violate tradition or establish prece-
dent that may prove embarrassing in the
future. And that plan will be carried out.
Cardinal Satoili will probably be the I'M
official Commissioner because of his WIDE
acquaintance with the American people
close official relations to the American
church as Project of the Congregation of
Studies. and because he speaks English
better than any Of his colleagues, which
is a very important consideration. The
representative Of the Pope is likely to
be called upon to make frequent public
addresses.
Cardinal Rampolla would Ike to go. and
took the liberty. with his permission.
to intimate to very high authority that
the American people would be very glad
to see him. Cardinal Vincente Vannutelli,
another candidate for Pope before the re-
cent conclave. would also accept the duty
with pleasure. but neither of these gem
tlemen speaks English. and II would be
difficult for them to leave Rome.
The Pope has instructed Father Ehrie:
The project of the library, very learned
and accomplished man. to select such ar.
.icles from the Incompatible collection OF
he Vatican as can be safely sent across
The sea. and make up as interesting an
exhibit as possible.
And thus all that the managers OF the
exposition desire has been granted. The
Hofy See will be represented at St Louis
8 MAY next for the first time on any SIM :
lar occasion. WILLIAM e CURTIS