The Washington herald., 1914-02-15
.POPE'S HEALTH
CAUSES ALARM
Anxiety in Vatican Over Re-
turn Of Pontif's Spells
Of Depression.
STANDS WINTER WELL
Physicians Declare Prelate Is in Good
Condition for Man of His
STANDS WINTER WELL
special Gable to The Washington Herald.

Special Gable TO The Washington Herald.
Rome, Feb. r-Uneasiness has been
renewed concerning the true state Of the
Pope's health since the report circulated
last week that an order had been issued
by the Vatican for a state chancery. or.
in other words, filling the vacant post of
canerlengo.
Information CLEANED from reliable
source. however. shows that the health
of the Pontiff Is much the same as IL
was six months ago. with the Pope sub
ject TO increasing long periods of de-
preston. followed by d sudden return OF
vitality
In order to alleviate the alarming re-
ports wired from various European CAPT.
tails. the Vatican prelates have an
nounced in a semi-ofiicial manner that the
Ope's health this winter has been ex-
ceedingly satisfactory for a man of his
age. his holiness having stood wonder
fully well the severity OF the January
cold. Besides this. none of the old all
inents, which usually beset him. have
so far troubled him this year. a fact
which has helped to restore in the Pope
the fullest confidence in his ability to
withstand the immense mental and physi-
cal work of his exalted ONCE
Physician Is OptimistIr.
As regards Prof Marchiafavs. the
optimistic view of the Pope's health. A
few days ago when ne was asked to deny
Or confirm the alarming reports cur
rent. he repeated:
The Pope's only trouble is a deep
rooted belief that he is immune to any
disease which might result from over
work and long exposure to cold.
Another one of his Weaknesses is the
Pope is utterly regardless Of every rule
laid down for him by his medical ad-
visers which doesn't strike him as ab-
solutely necessary"
AS is well known, the Pope Is ener-
getically ave-se to disappointing any
visitors. no matter whether they come
far or near to see him. This amounts
practically to a mania with Plus y. His
intimates say there is no waY OF resist
ing him in the morning when the Vatican
Mgr. Ranuzzi del Bianchi.
visits the Pope to acuuaint him with the
news of the various apostolic palaces.
Grants Many Audiences.
His holiness invariably inquiries into
the number of applications for audiences,
both public and private. or whether any
await his blessing. Again.
while the Pope often consents to post
Ftnt pTtIIliseu WIN prominent
and wealthy visitors. he has the utmost
for the humble priest and
poor peasant coming from long dis
lance for the sole purpose of seeing the
head OF the church and to receive his
blessing.
When. years ago. the question was sub
mitted to the Pope that private audiences
should be denied to every prominent nom
Catholic visitor unless there were con-
xTt. ,..l.. II n
personal meeting. the Pope replied tina
the Protestants were as much Gods chill
dren as the Catholics. and that IL the
desire to meet him was sincere he would
crafty II.
Following the recent death of Cardi.
nal Gennari. his holiness entered into
another period of depression. which. al
though not sufficient to prevent him from
receiving visitors and attending to his
daily work in his private library. still
causes pronounced feeling of uneasiness
among his intimates and their assist
ants.
Consistory Is Postponed.
The postponement of the next consis-
tory. which unofficially was fixed for
March 2. and has been settled for April
I. was probably the outcome OF this
temporarily indisposiiion. There are now
college. More important still is that now
4 new camerlengO must he appointed. A
report. which is not denied. is that the
Pope already has selected Cardinal Fer
rata as the successor of the late Cardi- |
nal Oreglia camerlengo. Cardinal
was Cardinal Rampolla's most |
intimate friend. and as Camerlengo he be- |
comes a candidate to the throne of St |
Peters in a certain sense. |
This report has increased the uneasi- |
less of loyal Catholic circles Some /
'lerical papers maintain that il his holt /
Tess has gone so far as to designate a |
lew camerlengo, without awaiting the
omins consistory. it means that despite
III assurances, there are many prelates
n the Vatican who regard a sudden and
atal seizure as not at all improbable.
specially in view Of the Pope's ad-
.anced age and that latent ailments are
lowly but surely undermining his health.