The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-09-02

bowed, sad-looking, feeble, old mana
! peasant, the son of a peasant, the des
cendant of peasants-a Pope from and
of the people, if ever there was one
a Pope unashalned, on the contrary
proud, Of what the world WOULD
his lowly origin, but which Christ
Jesus might term his blessed begin
ning-a Pope who is today as plain,
able as he was in Venice, where a
whole city held and holds him in deep
affection! yet, as he was before he
commenced his labors for the church.
A simple and kindly bow, an almost
seraphic smile from that tired face, a
piercing glance around the room, and
then he squares the apartment, giving
his ring to be kissed in turn to each
of the kneeling visitors. Then comes
the blessing.
AS the words issue from those low
ing lips of the humblest of Jesus fol-
lowers, something new and soothing,
and blessed seems to people the air.
Its effect may be described in the
words of my strong Protestant friend,
as we were going out: Il feel like
new and better man. | understand
now, as l never fully grasped before,
said the spirit of God had descended
upon them"
r,. That Protestant has no faith in the
Catholic creed, but there suddenly
sprang into his being the supremest
confidence in Plus x, the most UNI
bounded respect for hinl-a respect
that has reached positive affection.
/. He went to that first audience out Of
pure curiosity. He attended second
one yesterday in a spirit almost of
veneratlon. And today he is endeav-
oring to make arrangements whereby
he can be blessed again by the peas
ant Pope before he leaves Rome.
And his wife has caught the fever
quite as badly as he.
That simple little incident-un-
doubtedly repeated every day at these
,audiences-will give better idea of
the atmosphere surrounding Plus X
and of the effect Of his personality
than could paragraph after parag graph
of description.
CO.. The thought that came over me as
DO that loving and lovable face smiled
behind it's veil Of pathos as that
simple and humble follower OF the
lowly Christ who was Graded in a
manger gave the benediction-the
thought that burst upon me came from
that most expressive phrase in Scrip
ture: And Enoch walked with God"
For surely il today on earth there
be man who companions with the AL
mighty, it is this peasant successor Of
the fisherman Pope-this Venetian
priest, and Bishop, and Cardinal, who
fultills the prophecy that was written
of old: HE shall pull down the mighty
! from their seats and exalt them of low
degree"
- But these audiences with the pres
ent Pope are not all hushed awe, and
quiet contemplation, and suppressed
feeling. With his other qualities he
is intensely human. He evidently be-
lieves there is a time for prayer and
q time for laughter; a time for seri-
BUSINESS and time for mirth.
body of naval cadets were having
their flag blessed one day we were
there. After the ceremony the Pope
addressed the young men and the old
or dignitaries Of the Italian navy ac-
companying them. He must have
perpetrated several good jokes and
"joshes"-they say he loves the latter
occasionally-for all the Italians who
could hear his words broke out into
ripples OF laughter. while a merry
twinkle appeared in the eyes of the
good old Pope.
In still another room a flock of beau
tiful Italian misses, all CARRIED in pref
ty white dresses, and all from some
convent school, awaited his blessing
He spoke for a few minutes to them,
and his words must have been clothed
In simple and touching eloquence for
the eyelashes of men and women who
could get near enough to hear him,
and who could understand what he
said, were wet with tears,
This Pope of and from the people
leads the simple life. He has ban
ished nearly all semblance of aristoc-
racy from the Vatican. The very air
breathes democracy. His being and
! his bearing spread it abroad. He has
vetoed many of the traditions of the
Papacy. For instance, he does not
: Eat alone. When he came into bis
mt