Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-05-18
His Quiet Dignity, ExtraOrdin-
airy Sch hOlarship and Ex-
treme Courtesy.
PrOphesied That He Will in a
Few Years Be Createda
Cardinal.
HE SPEAKS ENGLISH FLUENTLY

In the few days that Archbishop
Giovanni Bonzano, the new Delegate
of Pope Plus X. to the Roman Cath
olics in the United States, has been
in this country he has made many
friends, not only among those high
in his own communion, but also
among Protestants. This is due to
his quiet dignity, extraordinary
scholarship, extreme courtesy,
which springs from a true gentleness
Of heart, and his tact and adapta-
bility to new conditions and, most
of all, his innate spirituality. After
five eventful days in New York City
as the guest of Cardinal Farley the
Archbishop left for Washington, ac-
companied on his trip by Mgr. Bona
ventura Cerretti, the charge
d'affaires, who held the same posi-
tion under his predecessor, Cardinal
Falconio. In New York all who
bade the Italian prelate farewell
prophesied that he like his predeces-
sors would in few years be recalled
to Rome and created a Cardinal.
All during the stay Of Mgr. Bon
Zano with Cardinal Farley an
American and a Papal flag floated
from between the two spires Of st.
Patrick's Cathedral and American
flags draped the front door Of the
Cardinals home. The prelate was
most courteous to the reporters, al
though he said he was not used to
American ways. The one thing he
asked to be excused from was ex-
pressing his opinion of America.
81 have only just come. Please give
me a little time to see. Then l will
tell you just what I think of your
wonderful country" he said, when
pressed for an interview.
OF all he heard while in New York
perhaps there was nothing which In
terested Archbishop Bonzano more
than the news that the Catholic
lcnurch in America was about-te have
at last a seminary in which to train
missionaries to go to non-Christian
lands. This is at Hawthorne, and is
the direct outcome of the long time
interest of Cardinal Farley, known
throughout the Catholic world as
''the Cardinal of the Missions" The
envoy said of the Foreign Missionary
College: ''It is a splendid project.
The Catholic church in America is
now in a position to repay a thou
sandfold for the benefits that were
brought to America by missionaries
who left home and fatherland to
preach the gospel here when virgin
forests marked the sites of your
great cities now teeming with a vast
population. When one considers
that It was only few years ago that
the Catholic church in America
passed from the jurisdiction of the
Propaganda in Rome as missionary
TERRITORY itself you have done well
TO organize a foreign Missionary col
lege so soon"
Archbishop Bonzano was a mis-
sionary for a long time, and 1t was
only when his health failed that he
was recalled to Rome from China.
His interest in missions, however,
has never tagged. For the last
seven years he was connected with
the Urban College of the Propaganda
lin Rome, first as a professor and
then as Rector, which position he
retained until he was sent here as
envoy. AS head of this college Mgr
Bonzano not only trained mission
aries but has kept in touch to a
large degree with missionaries in the
four quarters of the globe.
One Of the few visits the envoy
made while in New York was to the
office of the New York branch OF
the Society for the Propagation OF
the Faith. Here he received a warm
welcome from Mgr. John ]. Dunn
the director, and all of his staff OF
workers.
Although this is the first time
Archbishop Bonzano has ever beer
In America, he speaks English flu
emily. He has an unlimited voeab'
ulary in the language OF the country
of his adoption and he seems &C
know how to use just the right WORD
In the right place. This was re
marked generally after his speech oi
response TO the formal welcome oi
Michael ]. Mulqueen. the President
and of Justice Victor ]. Dowling a.
the Catholic Club reception. AS thu
Roman prelate stood on a throne be
! side another, on which was seated
Cardinal Farley, and spoke without
notes he made a picture not soon e
be forgotten by those present. TIT
Archbishop wore the flowing hous'
robes Of HIS office. dark red cape
over his black cassock, edged will
the same color, and on his head wa
dark red skull cap. He is tall
very slim and clean faced. HI
hardly looks his forty-five years
, But his face impresses one INSTANTLY
as being that Of a scholar. Asid
/, from HIS knowledge Of Italian
, Latin, Greek, English and seyera
7 other languages, he can converse an
A write In Chinese almost as easily a
} he can In his mother tongue. At thi
: reception Mgr. Bonzano took car
8 to say that while he was new 4
4 America he was familiar with th
history OF this country from It's brit