The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-10-04
THE POPE AND THE POlLU.
Continued from page g.

NIohtiuuth lioih p'Ec Va
1--WE walked to Rome. 1t is a long
journey. Madame has been to Rome?
All! 1t is large city, and very won
derful, like Paris-but not so beaut:-
full or so-pardon? Madame asked
about these, my medals? Oh, they are
nothing. They gave them to so many!
But, yes, naturally, l am proud Of
them, but-well, II do not like to
speak of them. 1t was nothing, moth
ing at all. I-oh, well, if madame in
sists, | was given this for-for just
knocking down two of my comrades.
Madame thinks, perhaps, that l am
joking? But it is true. | saw shell
coming, so knocked Paul Pillotti and
John Baldo fiat upon their backs.
What good did that do? | jumped on
top of them, you understand? Ma
dame does not yet comprehend? 1t is
so simple! l caught the shell. 1t is
that which has given me this ugly
face. But | was telling madame about
Rome, and that is more amusing than
medals.
Il found little work to do. 1 lived
with my two friends, and was able
to pay my share of the lodging and
food But often we went hungry.
One becomes accustomed to going
hungry if one is soldier. However,
after | had been in Rome for som
time, I began to wish very much 10
see the city, to see all the places
had read of in my school books. So
one day | went to the Vatican.
Il had always wanted to see tie
Vatican, and | had always wanted to
see the Pope. When l was a little
boy l dreamed about going to see the
Pope, and now l was in the same city
with him, l commenced wondering
| how | might accomplish it.
my friends said, You are mad!
No one can see the Pope!' But in
spite of that my desire grew. il
| seemed to me, as l thought more ard
more about it, that l must see TIE
| Pope. ! began to believe that I had
walked all the way to Rome just fcl
| that and nothing else! ! could ne
get it out of my mind; SO. as I say
one fine day took myself to the Vati
can determined to do everything pos
sible to procure an interview with His
| Holiness.
| There was a man standing guard
on the steps. He had on the clothes
of king. But he could not brighten
me. l went up to him and said: !
| wish to see the Pope He looked at
| me; then that man smiled and began
| walking up and down. So 1 walked
up and down beside him. | said: !
| wish to see the Pope He smiled
| again. You cannot see the Pope he
said No one can see the Pope. 1t
| is against the law. The Holy Father
does not receive common French sol
diers.' But, l replied, if the Holy
Father knew how much | wished to
see him, l am sure he would receive
me- You see, madame, l had the SO
strong desire to clap my eyes upon
His Holiness that. | was very insist
ent, and kept marching up and down,
up and down beside that man so beau
tifully dressed, trying to keep step
with him, which was difficult, his legs
were so much longer than mine!
Finally, Monsieur said, if the Pope
knew that T. Then, suddenly, the
good God sent me an idea! Mon
sieur,' I repeated, if the Pope knew
that | had saved the lives of two of
his sons, and that | have been given
the Croix de Guerre for it, do not you
think he would be willing to see me?'
All! That was wonderful idea, sa-
pristi! That man stopped himself,
then turned me about by the shoulder.
What is your name?' he demanded.
l told him. Where do you liver he
asked, and told him that also. Then
he asked me many more questions,
and finally / left him and went back
to my friends and recounted all that
had happened to me. They laughed
at me, Madame. They said l was a
fool; that one might as well expect
the good God Himself to send down
La flaming chariot in which / might