The Irish standard., 1904-12-24

Rome has a chance of seeing the Pope,
land going near him. AS he himself
told somebody who said he was too free
and easy-I am Pope of the whole
world, but L am Bishop of Rome: and
Everybody is free to come and see me-
before I came away from him, you
may imagine that l was very much
fascinated With him; and asked him
to give me his blessing. 1t was on the
18th of August that | had seen HIM
the day after my consecration-and l
found him looking rather sad. On the
18th there had been general strike
in Italy. We We're in IL fix: it was the
day of my consecration: | had friends
coming. and no carriages to bring
them: they had to walk. | had din
ner to give them, and no meat was to
he got. no bread, no vegetables.
Nevertheless we managed to send
someone out in the night. and bring in
something. HoweveE. the Pope said,
You were just on the point of being
consccratcd in the Vatican. because l
did not feel safe in sending out the
secretary" Yet in the end this was
arranged all right; and the Kings own
detectives We're sent to protect him,
and they went on their bicycles. But.
as | say. it left the Pope full of sad
ness. He said-'When l was Bishop
of Mantra, l prepared the place for
my burial. When | was Cardinal of
Venice. ] saw the place. where my
bones were to rest Now as Pope
have no idea where they will place my
body SO things as seen by him i'll
Italy We're very serious. We hope
that with your prayers. and with the
blessing of God. that he will live Il
long time to remain in the Vatican as
our friend and our Father.
"Audicnces. as those who have been
to Rome know. are very similar one
to another. You get pcrmission-you
go to the Holy Father-you present
the oh 'ccts that you want blessed-he
answers you in Il brief wny-and the
whole thing is over.
"Rut must tell you of an audience
you-one that took place some few
years ago. 1t was on the occasion of
the Pilgrimage from Malta going to
the Holy Father: attended the Arch
bishop Malta. But before going into
the Holy Father, l was standing in the
ante-chalnber waiting for my turn.
and in looking around I saw two fine
ncn-two fine stalwart looking men.
with naval uniform on. I recognized
| their Anglo-SaXOn faces. but I did not
recognize the uniform--it was not
| English. Went up to them, and
, speaking in Observation-Disclosures,
said. I see YOU are English, but not in
English uniform. They answered.
| We are Americans" One of them
| was Il Catholic and the other was not.
The former said: We have just come
back from the Philippines: we have
been out there in the war, and are
just returning. and we have taken the
opportunity to see Pope Leo Please
Father. tell me il l am holding my
rosary in the right way" He added,
My friend here is not Il Catholic and
lie has hid his in his pocket l said
Bring it out. and go and get his bless
ing. and get your rosary blessed, too.
"Then on looking round the other
side of the room, 1 saw two gentle
men dressed in white gowns, and
white trousers underneath, and with
long polished mitres on their heads. I
! recognized them us two parsee gentle
men, coming from Bombay. / had
been there Il short time before. | had
met several pnrSccs; and we talked of
mutual friends. I remarked-You are
going to sec the Pope, and you should
perhaps like to know something of the
ropes. oh. thank YOU You so in alfl
make your genuilcction. and then YOU
bow again, and 90 away. Thank you.
The audience began. | went into
Il corner of the room and stood and
watched. Several people were pre-
scented. The two naval officers came
up. The Holy Father patted theil
heads and blessed them and sale
something nice They said they were
just from the Philippines, and Pop,
Leo said-IIm-lnl-- are Just
going to have Il visit from Mr.. Taft
we are pleased that he is coming tt
discuss matters about the Philippines
II was Just Oh the eve of his visit.
was in the corner. If l had onl,
known that I was to have to do will
Taft, and naval officers. and the Phil
ippinrs: it was as far from my dream:
rs yours now that YOU may bccom,
Emperor of China.
Tho PArsces came next. With thci
round faces, and they knclt down. ant
crouclled very low and close to eacl
other: and Mgr. Hislctti said-'You
Holiness. these are two Parsce gentle
men, and they are payans.' Pope lie,
took their two heads together: the,
were crouching down With their back
so rounded, that you could see nothin.
Of their faces. When you come t,
Rome. YOU come to Peter. and whe,
YOU come to Peter, you come to Christ
May the Almighty grant YOU grace t.