The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-04
BENEDICT KV., OF
 NOBLE FAMILY, IS
 YOUNG FOR HONOR

New York. Sept 4EThe election of Cardinal Giacomo della Chiesa. --rch- bfshop Of Bologna, as Supreme Fon- tiff of the Catholic Hierarchy was the topic of absorbing interest among Catholics yesterday. Considerable surprise was expressed among persons high in Catholic circles that q man who had so recently been elevated to the Cardinalate and about whom so little was known should have had the highest honor of the Church conferred on him. That little was known in this country of Cardinal della Chiesa is indicated by the fact that in the Cath o1ic Encyclopaedia which was com pleted early this year, not line about him is printed He has been a Cardi- nal less than four months.
 Catholic churchmen in this city, on being drforrned of the new Pope's search through files of official Catho- lie organs published in Rome for a5c- counts of the Cardinals career. and, as result of the information found in this way. ventured many conJec- lures as to the policies that will be adopted by the new Pontifr In an Italian periodical named Pro F'ani1ia. the Right Rev. Mgr. Michael J. La veIle. rector of St Patrtcks Cathe- dral. found a sketch which appeared
 
 Chiesa Cardinal last May 25, on the same date that Archbishop Begin of Quebec was made a Cardinal.
 The new Pope was Of noble birth, according to Pro FAmilias and was the son of the 1Tarchese della Chfesa, (pronounced KeeAza). He received his educatfo1 at the Capronican Col lege at about the same time that Mgr. C. G. OKeefe of Highland Falls, N. Y :. was d student there and later att tended the Academy of Noble Ecc1es- iastfcs. which formerly was attended HIS rise m the Church after he had completed his education is described with some detail in Rome serni-of- heial organ published in the city after which 1t is named. For the last six years. according to this periodical. he had been considered as a possibility for the Cardina1ata
 He was born in PegIi, in the Dio- cese of Genoa on Nov. 21. 1854, and ordained to the priesthood In 1S7s- He soon attracted the attention of the then Mgr Rampol1a, later Cardinal Rampol1a, and, under Pope Leo, the Papa1 Secretary of Sta9es and in 1883 was selected to accompany the latter to Madrid. where Mgr. Ramp ola was NuncNo.
 He remained there as- Secretary Of the Nunciature until I SS7. and then returned to Rome with his friend and pztron, who had become Cardinal RaupoI1a- There he entered the Sec retAriat of State as one of tho 'rninu- tantess or minor officials In 1901 he Vsas appointed substitute Of the Secre- tzIriat and Secretary of the Cypher Although this office is not a fcardin- atitdaI post's it's incumbent enjoyed consnderab1e authority and. as had been the case in Madrid was in a posi- ton to study intimately the diplomacy. of his noted superior Tn the same year he was appointed Consultor of the Holy Office
 X Ithw was a notalbde promot on for him when on Dec. 1es 1907. Pope Plus x. Appointed him to be Archbishop of the important Sec of Bologna to suc- ceed the late Cardinal Svampa- His admizzfstr atton of this See was char acterEzed by prudence and diplomacy. and in less than seven years he was elevated to the CardInala1e.
 The fact that Mgr della CIiiesa had gained the high esteem of the late Pope was indicated by the fact that when he was made Archbishop of Bologna he was consecrated by the Pope himself on Dec 22s 1907. in the Sistine Chapel. am honor so unusual that it attracted considerable atten- lion
 The new Pope is descrSbed as a. man of great spiritual character, and fhe Catholic hierarchy. He is said to served in his manner. Not yet sixty man for his high office