The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-08
LIFE OF POPE Plus
WILL Be LONGER
THAN LE0'S
n
PAPAL CONSULTING PHYSICIAN
Is SEEN REGARDING REPORTS
OF ILLNESS. AUDIENCES TO
AMERICANS.

ROME, Dec. S.-A few days ago q
report was circulated that the Pope
was Ill. and, as Is always the case In
such instances, exaggerations began
to spread describing the holy father
as almost at the point If death. In
reality he was merely suffering from O
cold in the head. which had also at
tackled his throat.
The first persons to realize his true
condition were Americans, az the nrst
to be received In special audience after
bis slight indisposition was over-or'
to be more exact, when 1t began 70
| be In its decreasing stage-were Mr..
and Mrs. Ford Hennessy. OF New York.
and Mgr. ]. w. Mundelein, the char
cellor OF the diocese Of Brooklyn. The
pope. although still obliged not to
raise his voice, spoke most afYably TO
Mr.. and Mrs. Hennesy. and recalled
1.-THE recent visit of their dear Arch
bishop Farley" whose coming to Rome
has always been such q great pleasure
and such a comfort for the good news
he brought regarding the progress OF
Catholicism in the United States.
Mgr. Mundelein had q reception even
more cordial, the pope entertaining
him In q most friendly conversation
and taking the keenest interest In the
rapid growth of Long Island and Its
Catholic. institutions. The pope was
astonished to hear that Bishop Nc
Donnell In his 16 years episcopacy
| had raised there over go churches. and
that, according to the latest census,
the Catholics OF the diocese amounted
Ito about 100000, there being an agu.
mentation OF 10000 in one year.
The pope was so intensely absorbed
| in what Mgr. Mundelein was telling
him that when the chancellor OF
Brooklyn handed him a beautiful cask-
eet containing an offering OF gold
pieces for Peters Pence. Plus x.
almost automatically said: "Yes.
bless you and al THAT you have In the
box" thinking evidently that he was
expected to give his benediction to Z
box OF religious objects.
Mgr. Mundelein had therefore to ex-
plain that It contained q gift. and tho
pope laughed at his mistake and
thanked him heartily.
Taking the opportunity Of the pope's
indisposition. an interview was held
with DR.. Petacci. physician In ordi-
nary to the pontiff, and Prof march,
afava, the papal consulting physician.
on the real condition Of health OF
Plus X. They both assured me that
while the pope had, In the first months
Of his pontifcate. some difficulty In
adapting himself to the new life, SO
different from that to which he had
been accustomed, and found It hard 70
stand the burdens of his position, he
was now quite trained to hts new sur.
lroundings and Is, from all points Of
view, healthier and stronger and moro
alert than FIVE years ago. before he
left the lagoons Of Venice for the
Eternal City. The physicians remark.
ed that. among other things, the
patriarch Of Venice suffered then from
kind OF breaking out which spread
round his neck and sometimes over his
face as well. Even this, which Is
sometimes recalcitrant to all treat
ment, has now almost entirely disap-
peared, there being only little re-
naming on one of his eyelids. that lit
tie, however. has given signs Of disap-
pesring also.
Prof. Marchiafava remarked: "All
signs point to the conclusion that
Plus X will surpass In longevity even
Leo XIII.
In this case the physicians will gain
new credit. The idea OF putting then
selves In the Vatican is a good expe-
dent to preserve the lives Of popes, as
Plus TX. an we'll as Leo Kill. and Plus
X. II he fulfllls these predictions. will
be among the popes who have lived
longest