The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1907-05-25
The ruror that Cardinal Merry Del

] ne rNmOr tn6t CafQlndl merry Aci
. Sal is to retire from the office OF the
secretary Of state for Pope PiuX X. is
not new, for, during the troublous days
which have followed the carrying out
of the Natican's policy in France, and
Tor which the cardinal is said to be
largely responsible, it has been fire.
Quently heard, but the present report,
coming through private sources,
seems to indicate that this important
change is one Of the certainties of the
near future, and when it comes it Is
thought that it will, in a measure, al
ter the present policy of the pope.
Cardinal Merry Del Val was just en-
tering his thirty-ninth year when he
became secretary of the apostolic see,
and because of his scholastic attain
ments and his theological training it
was considered that he was peculiar
u well-ftted to discharge the vast and
Understanding duties of his office At
that time he was already distinguished
as a theologian and a deep student OF
church history. Latin was to him al
most like a mother tongue; he spoke
and wrote like an educated native Eng
!. Iish, French, Spanish, German and
Italian But while some regarded him
as fine product of the English
schools of Slough, Ushaw and Stony
hurst, as youth grown into manhood
under the liberal ideas of an English
mother, as a rational Catholic of the
Manning Newman type, others remem-
l : II IL, 4
lomat, and recalled the years he had
spent in the most aristocratic ecclesi-
astical circles Of Paris and Madrid,
with ali their inviting reactionary in
fuenCes, and recognized in him SON.
Der Spanish prelate below his veneer
Of English training.
BY no means the least to be consid-
cred OF the cardinals qualifications is
his address and bearing, in both of
which respects he has enjoyed an ad.
vantage over the leaders of other E,u-
Topean chancellories His knowledge
of the languages of different countries
has been an ever present aid to him in
his official communications with the
leaders Of the church in thought and
BDA tIIiItll III NdIiOuS ldllS VI TIE
world, and it has also facilitated his
Intercourse with all with whom he has
been brought in contact from foreign
lands. Being In the very prime of life
and possessed of good health, he has
shown power of application and a
zeal and devotion to the interests of
the church which have surprised his
81 L. he ~ 4,
worry and trouble to those who have
opposed him and the things for which
he stood.
Few papal secretaries, perhaps, have
been so severely criticised as has been
Cardinal Merry Del Val, for it has
been thought that he, even more than
the holy father himself, is responsible
for the cncyclical of last August de-
nouncing the French separation law
and forbddng Catholics to obey it,
The powers of the papal secretary of
state are considerable The office has
been evolved from the time when the
pope had representative at nearly all
the courts Of Europe, and so at the
present time the duties and RESPONSE
plI4lltS VI tLL- 'A44N Z b4N bbObA nan " az
between the German and the English
ministries of foreign affairs.
If the cardinal does resign his Office
and relnquish this vast power, il is
certain that it will come as 4 result
Of dissatisfaction on the part Of the
y pope with the policy pursued. In fact
It is said that as long as two years
ago the pope felt displeased over the
papal note which his secretary had
framed protesting to France and the
Catholic powers against the proposed
visit of President Loubet to Rome.
t. those who are familiar with the in.
side history Of things it is known that
Pins X did 1T wish to send it; but
allow I'd himself TO he oyerruled by his
secretary Of state
When the effec, Of the note was
realized hy the pope change in the
cta hin Of state was limited at
81. sc this many were skeptical, for it
W. pointed out tina; Plus X was very
d mined in matters Ia which he
Saa s4rg 81 liz ground b-t where be