The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-08-31
.PAPAL DELEGATE
At WASHINGTON
What Manner of Man the Pope's
Representative is According
to Newspaper Man.
A Seasoned Missionary and Priest
Who is Learned in the Laws
of the Church.
Archbishop Bonzano Spent Six
Years in the Chinese Empire
and is Yet Young.


James B. Morrow, a newspaper re-
porter, describes Archbishop Bonzano,
the new papal delegate, as follows:
He may be 40 years old, but what
ever his age, he is seasoned mis-
sionary and priest, and learned in the
laws of the Church. No doubt he Will
be Cardinal some time Even the
| Papacy may be within the possibili-
ties of his career. Leo XIII. and Plus
x. have shown great wisdom in send
Ing their agents to the United States,
They have selected Travelled men of
the world, and men who spoke the
language of the people.
The Apostolic Delegate in WASH
ington, sitting as a Judge. it might be
said, hears all the cases that would
be sent to the Pope were the Pope
without deputy in the United States.
Archbishop Bonzano, consequently, is
the highest Catholic authority in this
country. Plus x. designated him be-
cause of his talents, learning, piety,
and achievements. He has specialized
In missions, having served six years
in China, but he is a great preacher,
an accomplished writer, and has
taught theology in Italian colleges.
Likewise. the Pope has sent him on
delicate and difhcult commissions to
! various parts Of the world.
talked with Archbishop Bonzano
in the reception room of his fine resi-
dence on one of the best streets in
this city. The mahogany chairs are
upholstered in emon-colored silk.
Beautiful oil portraits of Leo XIII.
and Plus x. are against the tinted
walls. The Archbishop wore the long,
tight-f1tting cassock. Of a priest, low
shoes. with buckles, a large ring of
Oriental amethyst, set in small dia-
monds, and a heavy chain and cross
of gold. We conversed in English, he
making many graceful gestures with
| his hands, smiling often in a most
friendly way, and answering all ques-
| tions without reluctance. He had
heard of that unique parsonage known
as the American interviewer, and,
fancied, was curious to study one Of
them at first hand. He told me that
he was born in northern Italy, tho
region of the Alps. where, though he
did not say SO, the people, Industrious
farmers, stay at home, instead Of emil
grating to America.
"My family" the Archbishop said,
"were plain and honest people-demo-
Gratis. I suppose you would term them
went to school, like any other boy,
and then to college, taking a classical
course, as one would say in the Unit
ed States. While still a young boy
was attracted to the Church. The
influence that drew me toward the
priesthood came from within and not
from the outside" the Archbishop
continued, tapping the breast of his
cassock with the tips of his fingers.
my mother often told me that she
would thank God when became a
priest, but that she would rather have
me fall dead at her feet than to see
me bad priest"
Archbishop Bonzano told his inter-
viewer how at the age of 21 he de-
cided to enter the priesthood, and
spent four years in the study of theol-
ogy, intending to become mission
ary, and was sent to China, where he
spent six years among the Chinese
high up in the mountains hundreds of
civilization. Having learned to speak
the native language. it was not long
until the missionaries were able to
make themselves understood to the
people and presently to preach to
them in their own tongue.
II let my beard grow, also my hair"
said Archbishop Bonzano, "and wore
a vestment. We lived as the natives,
queue down my back as well as Chin
ese, ate their food, which was mostly
y fish and rice. and slept in their
houses. They shared what they had
with us and proved their sincerity
and generosity in various ways. Many
Catholics in China were massacred