The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-15
POPE AND VATICAN.
Interesting Facts About the Head of
the Catholic Church.

From Tit Bits.
The recent attempted assassination
of the Pope has once again called pub
lie attention to the venerable head of
the Roman Catholic church.
Pope Plus X is the 258th Roman
Pontiff, and is the first Pope of humble
origin for $50 years, He was born
in 1895, took orders in 1858, became
cardinal in 1898, patriarch of Venice in
1894, and Pope August 4, 1903.
He is described as possessing fine
physique and as being a man of per-
sonal fascination and splendid pres
ence. He has always shown deep in
terest in social questions and the bet
terment of the life of the poor.
While Patriarch of Venice his chart
ty and tact in the discharge of his
episcopal ring, as chief pastor of
Venice, was in pawn, in order that the
cry of the INDECENT poor should not
be unheeded.
The Pope is an extremely clever
chess player. and his greatest enjoy
ment is to spend an evening playing
against a Dominican monk, Father
Guilio, who is an old friend@o his holl-
ness. Plus X is also a real lover or
flowers. When he can possibly spare
the time from his duties during the
day he spends it, if possible, in the
Vatican gardens.
Forty Popes have lived less than a
year after their election.
BY ancient custom, female relatives
of the Pope never wear mourning on
any occasion.
The word papa" or "papas,' mean
ing father. is used by the Greeks TO
distinguish a presbyter. Gregory VII,
in a council held in Rome, In 1916, de-
clared that the title Papa" should be
given only to the bishop of Rome.
Originally the election of the Pope
was made by the priests and the people
of the diocese of Rome, but subse-
ouentlv the election was restricted to
the cardinals.
The Pope's council consists of the
college of cardinals, which comprises,
when complete. six cardinal bishops,
| fifty cardinal priests and fourteen car
dinal deacons. a large proportion of
whom are Italians by birth. The car
dinals are princes of the church
The Vatican receives its name from
! the hill on which it stands. II Is the
| largest palace in Europe. The present
building was begun by Pope Eugenius
! III 1145-1153), and was enlarged by
many of his successors up to the time
of Pope Plus TX.
The frescoes on the ceiling Of the
Sistine Chapel painted by Michael
| Angelo, are of worldwide fame, and
also those painted by Raphael In the
apartments known as Raphaels
STANCE The library was first consti-
tuted by Pope Nicholas V n147-l455),
and was added to by Leo x, Plus ",
Plus V and other Popes. The manu-
script collection Is the best part OF the
library.
The Vatican has eight grand stair
| cases and 200 smaller ones. 1t contains
the most expensive chair in the world,
being of solid silver, at cost OF J. To-
600.
/ The total number of apartments in
| the Vatican is computed at 1922. A cor
ridor about 1000 feet long joins the
! papal palace to the building called
Belyidere, which serves as the Plus
| Clementine museum, and which con-
| tains two of the finest pieces Of sculp-
| ture In the world-the apollo Belvi-
dere" and the LAGOON"
About half way UP this corridor is
the entrance to the Vatican library
which was built by the architect Fon-
| tana, under Sixtus V.
The average annual expenses of the
Vatican are said to be about 92S6,400.
Of this sum 100000 is at the Popes
disposal e2S,000 goes to the cardinals.
e1S.400 to DOOR bishoprics, f72,00O for
administration of apostolic palaces,
| 100000 for diplomatic expenses, &c.,
| 900 for employees, and 948,000 for
schools and charities