The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-11-14

pOlla taCtlOn at Jne vatican. throughout,
Della Chiesa has been known as identified with RAM
polla in contrast to the policies of Plus X and Merry
del Val.
And now Della Chiesa is Pope Benedict XIV!
Truly it is the return of Rampolla in the spirit If
not in the flesh.
In a thousand ways, some little and some big, a
revolution will be wrought at the Vatican. Just to
mention a minor matter-Pius X could converse in
no modern tongue save Italian. Foreigners had to
talk through an Interpreter on the rare occasions
when they were received by his holiness. Besides
Italian, Benedict XIV speaks fuently English, French,
Spanish and understands German. Like Leo XIII,
he will make a practice of addressing every visitor
in his native language.
If, on leaving Bologna, Benedict XIV failed to buy
a return ticket to his archiepiscopal see as Plus X
did when in 1903 he left Venice to attend the con-
clave from which he emerged pontiff, yet Cardinal
Della Chiesa little expected to sit a few days after
ward on the throne of Peter. A faithful disciple of
Rampolla. and, as such, little liked by the state chan
celery set of cardinals, and a cardinal of only a few
months standing, the archbishop knew that he had
against him the supporters of Plus KS new religious
and political policies, the secretary of state with his
powerful friends and, perhaps, the votes and the
influence of all German and Austrian cardinals.
1t was perhaps due to these many obstacles in his
way that the clergy and the civil authorities of the
diocese of Bologna failed to escort the archbishop to
the railroad station and wish him all success as is
the custom.
What happened within the frescoed walls of the
Sistine chapel will not be known for some time to
come. One day, when Benedict XIV will consider
the time ripe, the necessary permission will be
given and a new Cardinal Matthew will publish
his diary of the conclave, giving the details of
the religious and diplomatic struggle that led the
sacred college to vote for Cardinal Della Chiesa.
Giacoma Della Chiesa was born in Genoa on
November 81, 1854, and belongs to one of the
Oldest families of the Riviera. On his mothers
side his family has already given to the church
another pope. Cosimo Migliorati, who was limo
cent VII Q404-1406), while on his fathers, the
new pope is connected with nearly thirty aristo-
cratic families of northern Italy, among whom are
some Of the most prominent society leaders of
the capital, like Marquis Durazzo, Prince Cen
turione and Count Sasshi.
OF Benedict XV's boyhood days very little is
known. His sisterin-law relates that he was a
quiet, obedient lad who studied and seldom in
du'ged in his companions pastimes. One day,
when only twelve, the young marquis approached
his father and told him pointblaHk that he wanted
to become a priest. His father thought it over
for q minute and then said:
VERY well, but first get your diploma and then
renew your request"
For eight years not a word more was said on
the subject. The young man attended the school
at Genoa, always distinguishing himself and later
on entered the law faculty of the local university.
His early inclination had been wholly forgotten
by all when one day the young man returned
home and laying on his fathers desk the parch-
ment stating that he was a full-hedged doctor Of
law, said:
Now, will you give me your consent to become
a priest?"
The old marquis was thunderstruck. There
stood before him the same slim figure Of eight
years previous. whose steady gaze betrayed a
strong determination. The marquis surveyed him
carefully and then said:
"Of course, If you still think So"
That settled it. A few months later the young
man entered the Capranica college in Rome,
where he took his minor orders, and later on the
Mobiles academy, where he graduated as D. d.
1t was while he was teaching that the then
Cardinal Rampolla put his eyes on him. In 1885,
when the Caroline islands questions came up and
Rampolla was sent to Spain as special envoy,
Della Chiesa was given him as his secretary and
highly distinguished himself. The happy solution
in 1887 of the Caroline islands question by Leo
XIII opened to Rampolla the gate of the Vatican
state chancellery and Monsignor Della Chiesa went
with him, beginning at the bottonI of the ladder.
A few years later, however, he succeeded Mon.