The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-11-25
MERRY DEL VAL
IS AN ATHLETE
While on His Vacation, Took Part In
Sports and Games, Thus Step
ping Into the
LImelIsht.
HAD METEoRIc CAREER
Although Only Forty-seven Years Of
Age, Occupies an Excited Po-
aition in the Catholic
Church.
by Henry Wood, Rome correspon-
dent of the United Press

cent OF the United Pressl
ROME, Nov. 25.- Cardinal Merry
del Val has just leaped again, quite
into the lime-light OF
Roman. publicity. This time, In the
first place. it is because his eminence
has just returned from his summers
and in the second place, it
is because that during this summers
vacation he is alleged to have indulg
ed prolificly and indiscriminately In
athletic sports and pastimes. This
latter, according to those who have
occupied themselves with it, is some
thing that no cardinal ever before
has done.
Even, however, without this second
unusual cause for publicity, the first
would have sufficed entirely as an ex-
cuse for the Roman press to dilate at
length on the cardinal secretary OF
state. Still only AZ years of age an
age at which few men have ever
been, or are, created cardinals and
yet occupying the second highest and
what is considered by many the most
important and most powerful position
in the Catholic church, Cardinal
Merry del Val is always figure,
every detail Of whose daily life is a
matter of interest for those who live
at Rome. This, too, has been the case
from the day that Pope Plus x, lifted
him from mere secretaryship to the
purple of cardinal, and three days
later appointed him papal secretary of
state.
don, October 10. 1865, Cardinal Merry
del Val is believed to have Inherited
much of his special aptitude for his
present high position, from his father.
a noted Spanish diplomat and ambas-
sador. Following his studies in Eng.
land Merry del Val came to. the Acad.
envy of The Noble Ecclesiastics at
Rome to finish his education. BY
Pope Leo he was appointed to a posi-
ton in his encourage known as a
participating cameriere to the ponti-
/ fetal throne" A little later he was
entrusted with diplomatic mission
to Canada and March IS, 1897, was
created domestic prelate. Two
of the Academy of Noble Ecclesias-
tics in which he had completed his
education at Rome. In less than an
other year he was made titular
archbishop-enio the rank of an
archbishop but not conducting the
actual affairs OF an archdiocese and
lin 1900 was sent as representative OF
| Pope Leo XIII to the coronation OF
King Edward of England.
Then came the combination OF cir
cumstances which brought about his
meteoric elevation to the papal secre
taryship of state At the time of the
death Of Pope Leo the position OF
secretary to the sacred college and
Ito the conclave that was to elect a
papal successor, was vacant Merry
| del Val was chosen temporarily foI
i the position. With the assembling OF
the conclave the position was confirm
ed by that body and little later by
the newly elected Pope Plus himself
Pope Plus, however, had been at
/ tracted to the secretary during the
session of the conclaye that hat
J elected him pope, and two month:
/ later startled the entire Catholic
{ world by suddenly creating Linn car
/ dinal and three days later namins
! him papal secretary of state.
/ While it might have been possible
for much of the Catholic hierarchy o
j Italy to have forgiven the fact tina
man of 3S years had been lifted
over the heads OF veteran cardinals
who previously to their elevation ha,
grown gray in the diplomatic service
/ of the vatican, 1t cc~1 not overlook
and never has overlooked the fac
that in the appointment of Merry de
1 Val, this most important and mos
powerful position in the Catholi
church, went out of the hands Of tn
/ italians, who previously had Away
! controlled it, and passed into thos
of foreigner
This perhaps, more than any on
other thing is what has kept Cardina
| Merry del Val ever in, the Romal
press and ever before the Roman eye
In these past scrutinies variou
/ phases CT the secretary of state hav
been passed upon, such as his extra
ordinary mastery of the moderi
languages. He is fluent not merel,
In the common ones of English
French. German, Italian and Spanisl
but others that by foreigner are Sc
dom II ever mastered Now, however
! interest has centered on the lates
discovery OF his indulgence in att
j letic pastimes
This popularity of the cardinal ser
lFetary OF state is attributed to hi
4 carly English training and education