The Cape weekly tribune. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1914, 1914-09-11
CONTRAST BETWEEN
The TWO PONTIFFS
When Asked for Photograph, the
New Pope Said: Pm too Ugly
to Aay One Taken.

Rome, Sept. "A patrician has
succeeded a plebian on the throne of
the Fisherman. A son of Marchese
(Marquise) whose brothers are an adj
miral and a captain in the Italian
navy follows as pontiff of three hun
dred million Catholics the son of a
village postman whose devout sisters
are the humblest Of peasants.
"Will my frail shoulders be able TO
bear this burden?" cried Giacomo
Cardinal dell Chiesa, archbishop of
Bologna, when his election as Vicar
of Jesus Christ on earth was announc-
ed. His hearers knew he referred to
the Armageddon, for he realized full
well he had been chosen to meet one
of the greatest crisis in the worlds
history.
And so is elevated to the highest
spiritual seat man almost unknown
outside of Italy, one whose sixty
years make him a young man in the
Papacy. The whole world, Catholic
and non-Catholic alike, is curious over
the personality of this figure whom
the astute members of the Sacred col
lege hope will lead mankind back to
the walks of peace. There is found
nothing in the comparison of the per-
sons of Plus Y and Benedict XIV
which would suggest the higher birth
of the latter. In the new pope one
sees a man 5 feet II inches high and
well built. He is trifle bent, as if
from study, and wears heavy spec
tacles. He is not handsome man.
Asked for his portrait recently by a
friend, he replied:
81 am too ugly to have my photo
graph TAKEN" and added that he had
not single one in his possession.
Only after much coaxing was he in
duced to sit. There was undoubtedly
much modesty in this, but Benedict
XIV, if not "ugly" is not handsome
Pontiff.
Yet, everyone who talks with him
Is delighted. He is extremely earn
est. He is quick to grasp and quick
to reply. His bearing in conversation
is irreproachable. While always
courteous, he is guarded in his state
ments.
He is remarkable for his ability to
keep his temper. Never does his voice
rise, although he can command the
greatest force in his sentences. He is
the finished diplomatist.
What birth and training have to do
in the producing of this manner of
man is seen by review of Benedict's
life. He is the son of Marchese della
Chiesa pronounced Keeaza) and was
born in Pegli, in the diocese of &C.
noa, November 81, 1854. Christopher
Columbus was also a native of Pegli.
He received his educaiotn at the
Capronican college, and later attended
the Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics,
which formerly was reserved exclu-
sively for persons of noble birth. He
was ordained a priest in 1878.
Then came training under three of
the greatest modern church states
men-Pope Leo XIII, Cardinal Ram
polla and Cardinal Merry Del Val. In
1883 he accompanied Mgr. Rampolla
(later CardinaD to Spain, where the
latter was Nuncio. This was under
Pope Leo. In 1887 he returned to
Rome, where Rampolla had become a
cardinal, and entered the Secretariat
of State as one of the Minutante or
minor officials.
In 1901 he was appointed substitute
of the Secretariat and Secretary of
the CIPHER. Here he was in a posi-
ton to study the diplomacy of the
vatican intimately. In the same year
he was Amounted COnsllltor of the
Holy office.
His promotion was rapid on De-
cember 16, 1907, Pope Plus X appoint
ed him Archbishop of the important
Sea of Bologna. Here his adminstra-
ton was most di!igent. He attracted
popular attention once by an indig-
nant attack on the tango, which he
forbade his people to dance. His work
was characterized by great prudence
and diplomacy.
Not for a century has a cardinal of
such short standing been made Pope.
He assumed the Red Hat MAY rs, last.