The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-04-12
HIS TENTH YEAR
IN THE VATICAN
Always a Matter of the Greatest
Anxiety When the Holy Father
is Reported Unwell.
The Troubles of the Church Affect
the Pope Physically, as Well
as Mentally, and
These Have Been Many During the
Niue and One-Half Years
of His Pontificate.

The Holy Fathers illness has rs al
ways happens, put all other events. |
parliamentary happenings, payment of
Scnat tors in Italy, scandals about pub
lie works III Rome, presidential dis
courses in the United States, opening |
Of Parliament in England, Balkan
troubles, into Il category of secondary
Importance IT is possible To write of
it With comfort, because The news is i
good. If ii had not hecu 81 one
| to write at all. because the mind re-
=! fuses to contemplate tho idea of Rome,
T! the Vatican. bcreft uf Plus y. One
| remembers how, the summer before
| last, when really very serious anxiety
/, was felt, would be prophets in Roman
| journals had already elected his sue
the most pcssmistic have not in this
| instance dreamed OF going 10 that
| length.
! There must always be anxiety when
the news comes that the Holy Father
is not well. He will be seventy eight
on the second Of June, this year. All
| his life has been a free and open one,
! either in the hill country or by the
| lagoons OF Venice, but for nine years
ana a half he has been shut up in the
Vatican ana until last year lie used
to sacrifice even his freedom of USE
OF his own gardens in order not to
convenience visitors to the galleries.
Now the underground passage OH
viatcs that but it is. especially for
him. Il confined life. In his case. too.
mind and body react in ono another:
tho troubles of the Church affect him
heaven knows he has had to bear With
troubles enough during his pontiicate.
Then, everyone knows of his old en-
clny. the gOnt, and everyone trcmblcs
when he has any slight ailmcnt. lest
the old enemy may enter in and ag-
gravntc things. The doctors assure
We rest easy, but they have 10 watch
carefully.
Last Friday night he felt chill He
said his Mass and Went through the
usual routine cr audiences, but was
prevailed on to retire TO bed early.
Those who had received summons TO
the Vatican for audiences on Satur-
day were surprised at the delay, and
when it bccnmc known that no audi
cnccs would be held il was evident
that Plus Y. was not we'll. There have
, been Il few exaggerated reports. but
on the Who'll. the rcassuring bulletin
Of the Osscrvatorc Romano has been
accepted in good faith. The influenza
chill attacked the Holy Fathers
;; throat and those who remembered
, how this was one OF the dangerous
spots eighteen months ago fcit anx-
t ious, but the trouble has yielded slow
! ~ to treatment and there have been
no complications. There has, of
course, been Slight fever at niehtit
+ is impossible for anyone to be i'll at
all in Rome and not have n touch of
fever; but ii has snbsidcd during the
: day time. The Vatican pharmacist
and a personal attendant have passed
, each night in the room next the Holy
8 Father. DR. Amici, his regular at
ci has slept in the Vatican, within
, call if necessary. The consulting
Il physician. Prof. Marchafava, has
G called morning and evening, but his
;. visits have not lasted more than a
o quarter OF an hour. The Holy Faith
j er's sister, Anna, and his niece, Gilda
have, as is natural, paid frequent vis-
: it's. Cardinals, Prclates and Arnbas-
o sadors have called daily for news, and
$ crowned heads have asked to be kept
informed by telegraph daily Of His
IIolness's progress towards recovery;
d and, Of course. the world has beer
: praying. 1t is nineteen months since
: our last time OF anxiety, which was
- really and truly anxiety. May it be
G many more than nineteen months he.
C fore we have to ask for news abou
His Holiness's health again. He