The Washington herald., 1914-04-12
PRELATES' Hotel
IN rome PLANNED
inconvenience to American
This Year to Be
Overcome.
ALL EXPENSES ASSURED
Sixty American Cardinals, Arch
bishops, and Bishops Expected to
Visit Pontiff This Season.
,perial Cable to The washington Herald.

Special Cable to The Washington Herald.
Rome. April 1.-THE Rev: John De-
brucher. a nephew of a former parish
priest OF New Britain. Conn. left for
America this week charged with an i'm
portant mission by Pope Plus and the
Vatican.
II the mission is successful IL means
the establishment in Rome of another
American institution. According 10 what
recently took place in high Catholic
circles, the attention of the Pope has
been again drawn to the fact that
American prelates visiting the Eternal
City are without proper accommodation
and headquarters such as the prelates
OF all other nationalities have here
This fact first attracted the notice of
his holiness in 1911. when the two new
American cardinals-Farley. OF New
York. and OConnelI. of Boston-were
summoned here to receive the red hat
and were compelled to make their head
quarters in different hotels unfrequented
by the Black Aristocracy or patronized
by the clerical element.
Year of RereptIons.
This year has been designated by the
Vatican for a general visit OF Ameri-
can prelates to see the Pontifr personal
y and the lack Of proper accommodation
for these prelates is more apparent than
ever. Since the year began fifteen heads
of prominent North American dioceses
have visited Rome officially. and before
the end OF the year more than sixty
other American cardinals, archbishops.
and bishops arc expected here, accom-
panied by large delegations of priests
from their respective dioceses. Among
these will be Cardinal Gibbons. Of Balti-
more, and the other two American car
dinals I have mentioned. Owing TO his
advanced age, Cardinal Gibbons has not
visited Rome since the conclave in 1893
All will be obliged to stay at hotels this
year. and Father Debruchers mission to
America will be mainly devoted to rails
ing funds to start an institution which
will be both a club and a religious retreat
as well as a temporary home for Ameri-
can prelates visiting Rome.
A plan was submitted to the Vatican
authorities some time ago with a view
Of enlarging the American College in
Rome. This purpose proved to be i'm
practicable, owing to the prohibtive
prices demanded by the proprietors Of the
surrounding buildings. II was later sug-
gested that an institution run on the
lines of an exclusive club would cost less.
consequently Father Debrucher's pro-
posal to interview personally a number
Of prominent Catholics in New York,
Boston. Chicago. San Francisco, and
OtneT IdTRe cities Win a view 10 TdAslIlB
the necessary funds was fully approved
by the Vatican authorities.
Pay All EXPENSE.
1t is argued that the number of AmerI-
can clergymen visiting Rome is sufficient
to support the institution and pay all
running expenses. once the fund for a
suitable building is provided. II is fur
ther argued that the only distinguished
ii he hotels hara
the Americans The French, German,
and other foreign prelates invariably
stop at the colleges Of their respective
countries or IL originally belonging to
some monastic order are domciled at the
house Of their order in Rome. The
Vatican authorities who are backing
Father Debruchers project. which has
the warm support of his holiness, want /
II to be clearly understood that the chief
scope of such an institution Is to pro-
vide comfortable quarters at much lower |
terms than the best hotels, but at the |
same time to not restrict the freedom |
of choice Of the distinguished visitors.
Arrangements are being made at the |
Vatican to accord Cardinal Gibbons q
right royal reception when he arrives |
here Many reasons combine to account !
for this attention. The holy father has
not seen him since the memorable day |
OF the election, when the new Pope en- |
braced him in the presence OF the entire |
Sacrd College in conclave in the chapel. !
whence the Baltimore cardinal emerged |
with the sovereign Pontif arm in arm.
Moreover, IL is known that, as dean OF |
the American cardinals. Cardinal Gibbons |
will always be regarded by the Vatican |
state chancery al the man whose coun-
sci in American church affairs is the /
most reliable.