The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-12-28
SUCCESS OF POPE Plus X.
Due to His Democratic Habits and
Love of Simplicity.

dignities in the Church, he never lost
sight of the fact that he was son of
the people and that all his ecclesias-
tical work was to be done for the
people, even for those whom the
Sorld considers as the last In the So
cial scale. When still Patriarch OF
Venice, while flattered and sought
after by the most prominent people
of that city, he never forgot to give
some of his time to the poor and the
humble. During his management OF
the Venetian diocese he is known to
have spent many a night in the hum
BILE dwellings of poor country priests
when on his pastoral visits, and al
though a prince of the Church. he
was always ready to enter the most
miserable tenements in pursuit OF
his work OF charity and religion.
He always entertained such an
humble opinion OF himself that when
the death Of Leo XIII. was an
nounced and his duty as n Cardinal
called him to Rome for the election
Of his successor. he never dreamed
OF even the possibility that he him
self would be the choice of his col
leagues In the Sacred College, and
bought return ticket to the Eternal
City firmly convinced that he would
be back to Venice In few weeks.
Succeeding Pope Of noble and
arlstocratlc birth, Plus X. found that
many of the formalities of life in the
Vatican were not suited to him and
forthwith abolished many of these
formalities which for centuries had
been in vigor at the Vatican and
more strictly so under his imme-
diate predecessor. On the very day
he was elected, when the sedarii
brought the sedan chair to carry
him to his apartments from the con-
clave hall, he gently but firmly pro-
tested that he would rather walk
than ride in a box.
The same happened with the port
able throne which the Popes have al
ways used when going to or from
ceremony. Only In a few solemn oc-
casions, when the ceremonies had to
be held in St. Peters, Plus X. con-
sented to sit on this throne, but on
all other instances, when the cere-
monies were to take place in the
Vatican palace itself, he always de-
clined to be carried by the bearers
and walked to the meeting place as
any simple prelate.
The democratic manners of Plus
X. are very popular with his intim-
ate secretaries and the prelates of
his encourage. Soon after his cleo
ton. finding that custom prescribed
that the Pope sholld take his meals
all by himself, he rebelled and or
dered that the table be always set
for six persons Excepting the
breakfast, which consists OF a cup of
coffee which he takes alone in his
study, he partakes of all his other
meals together with his private sec
retaries and during the repast con-
verses familiarly with them, gener-
ally in the Venetian dialect. For the
first few months of his pontifcate
the Vatican cooks had hard time
to please the democratic tastes of
the new Pope. The elaborate and
formal dishes prescribed by long
usage for the Pope's table he alb
horred, and was never so happy as
when his own sisters prepared for
him a plain Venetian meal and
brought it to the Vatican for his din
ner or supper. His adyersion to any
elaborate repast compelled him at
last to discharge the Vatican chef
and replace him with a Venetian
who did the cooking for him when
still bishop.
One of the traits which have made
Plus X. very popular to the Roman
people and to all his personal visi-
tors is the democratic way in which
he receives them at the Vatican. IN
der the preceding Popes visitor
before approaching the head OF the
Church was obliged to make the
three formal genutlections, one at
the threshold of the Papal apart
ment, a second inside the door and
the third when approaching the
Pope. Plus X, however, soon dis
pensed with these formalities. and
has been known to go and meet his
visitors at the very door and escort
them out, no matter how humble
their position in life, before they left
the apartment. To any one who tries
TO kneel before him Plus X. prompt
ly extends his hand and insists on
the person rising, He may allow his
visitor to kiss his hand, but he i'm
medlately counteracts the humble
ness of the act by asking his visitor
to take a seat near him.
Among other signs of the Pope's
democracy was the abolition OF many
officials whose duties had long ceased
10 exist, and who had become purely
ornamental adjuncts of the Papel
Court He would If he consulted only
| his individual desires, abolish the
court altogether, but he realizes that
the exalted Office he holds demands a
certain amount OF state, and he lays
aside his personal inclinatons in this
respect
Again, he forbade the members of
! his establishment kneeling whenever