The Irish standard., 1907-04-27
A WORLD FIGURE
Pope Plus X, of Quiet Dignity,
Modest and Meek.
Always Thinking of Others
Before Himself,

the dominant ngure III all 1ne "orlQ
is, now Pope Plus Y, rousing the adj
niration of two continents. through his
defiance of the powerful French repub-
lie in upholding the rights of the
Church. says a, Roman correspondent
Of the Boston Transcript.
If one knew nothing of the man his
imagination would Immediately con-
ceive a colossal figure to do and dare,
while what is the reality? A simple
man of quiet dignity modest and meek.
who thinks of others before himself
and whose motto is. Restore all things
in Christ" There was only one cir
cumstance which could arouse SO saint
like character-an attack on the
Church-and once aroused, Europe and
America have seen to what heights he
can rise.
It"would however, be totally wrong
to suppose that Pope Plus y. does not
suffer under circumstances so abnor-
NAL. The day after Monsignor Mon
tagnini's expulsion from France l had
occasion to approach one of the init
mates Of the Pontiff, who said, with
tears in his eyes, Il have never in my
life seen such impersonal anguish. For
Pope Plus x. to defy France is exactly
like a father bitterly differing with his
family. He thinks of nothing else, be-
ing human, he cannot look ahead suffi-
GENTLY not to feel anxiety for the
Church. He is resigned because it is
Gods will, but he cannot help being
preoccupied. He has, however, many
consultations, one being the expressions
of loyalty and encouragement coming
to. him from all over the world, es
pecially from America. One prelate
not far from Boston telegraphed. Holy
Father, we are with you to a man; de-
pend upon us both morally and finan-
cially.'"
All who follow the politics of the
Church are acquainted with the public
life of the Pontiff. while few really
know him in private.
There has not been SO much charity
dispensed in the Vatican for years as
now. One of the greatest joys of the
Pope's new position is that he has the
wherewithal for his charities. AS
Patriarch of Venice this pleasure was
was not bottomless; but at the Vati
can much goes to the poor.
The Club of st. Peter maintains in
Rome seven or eight so-called kitchens
where the poverty stricken for nomi-
nal sum can get a hearty meal. The
club, finding itself on the point of q
breakdown, decided to appeal to Plus
x, asking only small amount. The
Pontiff asked how much was needed
by the club the reply being $500.
whereupon he promptly sent $1,000,
with the intinaton that it might ex-
pect more before the winter was out.
In larger affairs the Pontiff is lavish
on a corresponding scale. At the time
Of the Calagrian earthquake he sent a
sum to the sufferers which must have
taxed the Papal exchequer, but when
the eruption Of Vesuvius came, only
his hand and heart. saying in these
precise words, II will be without food
myself before these poor souls shall go
hungry
It is wonderful how much Rome oc-
cupies herself with Plus X. and his
doings, although she declared herself
absolutely Indifferent to all things
Papal' That she is not, however, is
proven by the interest which was
taken in: a dispute begun in the late
Pontificate. the end of which is a.
magnificent illustration of Plus KS
generosity. :.~'s
A certain Nea politan priest dying
left his money to Leo Kill, who ac-
copied it. The relatives went to law
1 to dispute the will, but the courts up
held the Pope. Leo XIII. meanwhile
Y died and the case remained suspended.
The new Pope had to be asked for a.
power Of attorney to act for him, but
the relatives of the deceased priest
\ petitfoned Plus x. who, having their
financial condition investigated and
hnding them numerous and needy,
I straightway renowned the whole he
a redity absolutely in their favor. with
the intimation, however that a dona-
Z ton to the poor fund would not be
y refused. Strangely enough, so far, the
4 recipients of the Papal generosity have
not seen fit: to respond to the gentle
hint.
The routine of the daily life of the
Rentiff is of the calmest. Even in
h ss these days of stress the only differ
Il enceA on the surface is a little less
sleep, longer hours of application to