Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-30


always impress me with their fine.
vigorous youth,
His Holiness then went over certain
documents | handed him, giving de-
tailed statistics concerning the war
work of the knights of Columbus. His
keen eyes scanned each page, and as|
he read figures under various divi-
sions he calculated "Benel" and made
running comments which showed
that this was not the first time he
had studied our undertaking,
He even knew we'll many of the
chaplains who had gone overseas in
the uniform of the X, of c. lie spoke
of some OF them affectionately by
name | found, too. that His holiness
had heard of the late Joyce Kilmer
of the New York Times. The Pope
was quite familiar with the fighting
tradition of the SiXty-ninth regiment,
and when l related to him that Father
DUFFY. the chaplain of the Sixty
ninth, had said, when importuned by
a newspaper man for an interview,
! that the newspaper man could say
most anything in Father Duffys name
so long as he didn't say anything that
didn't offend the Pope. His Holiness
| laughed heartily, and | had an OPP
| portunitv to observe his white teeth
although he is soundly past middle
| age-he is now | think--in his 6Sth
year. yet he shows none of the signs
of an old man. He questions with all
| the eagerness of youth, and when the
answer is especially apt, or the nature
| of the repartee, he smiles broadly and
| cries "Bravol"
Trusts in Future.
The pope is we'll aware of the base
less propaganda against the Holy See
for its attitude during the war, but
he is quite satisfied that time will
prove the wisdom and justice of his
/ curse, which was one of strict neu-
| trality throughout and a firm con-
| domination of the breaking of the laws
| of war The official journal of the
/ Vatican has prepared an article stat
4 ing the pope's position throughout the
war, which when read in cold blood
by many of those who excitably made
accusations, the Holy See, during the
var, will convince them that the holy
father did everything in his power TO
mitigate the horrors of war for those
poor unfortunates upon whom these
!. horrors fell with usual violence.
His holiness was thoroughly ac-
quainted with all that was being said
concerning the league of nations. He
did not discuss the league, nor did he
discuss the peace, treaty; but he did
applaud warmly the utterance made
by Supreme Knight James A, Fla
herty of the X. of c. when he lined VI
the knights against Bolshevism and all
other manifestations of extreme radi-
caGsm.
THAT danger is not new to Europe,
his holiness said. The war has
brought it forward with unusual clear
ness
Il think it is just as much task
for the world to maintain the spiritua
integrity of the nations as 1t is t.
maintain their physical. integrity, fol
the soul of a nation must enjoy free
| dom if a nations body is to thrive
Interference with the spiritual life o
} nation would be just as disastrous a
interference with its political life.'
/ was eager for his holiness t.
elaborate this thought. I knew that
he did so it would give the world in
formation of value and of deep in
. terest to those watching its peace
. making. The pope reflected for {
a moment and then said. quite sud
6 denly:
, "You Americans are magnificent a
organization. 1t would be splendid
> here, Italy, we could have such a.
organization as you represent sue
an organization would achieve won
derful things for Italy. would serv
Italy just as the Knights of Columbu
are serving the United States.
He spoke of what good impress
sion the Knights of Columbus clu
next to the Minerva hotel in Rome
} had made upon the Catholics of Rome
He hoped that some such club codi
be permanently maintained. The PEG
pie of Rome were profoundly affected
he said by the soldierly conduct G
= the American soldiers and sailor
:, who were the guests of the Knight
Il of Columbus in Rome, and this wa
true of all other parts of Italy wher
: Americans had been located
) His Holiness expressed deligh
I when I told him that Cardinal Mel
l. cier intended to visit the Unite
= States as the guest of the Knights c
l Columbus. His admiration for Car
dinal MERCER is unbounded.
o Il am sure America Will receiV
/ him with open arms" he SAID.
q Speaks of Peace.
Then the pope spoke in genera
~ hoped and prayed it would be worth
of the millions of young men VIII
had persisted in order that 1t migE
come to the world.
Revertng again to the visitors n
spoke entertainingly of Rome, ind
eating some of the magnificef
churches we should visit before leaN
ing Rome. He then went on to dt
scribe his pleasure in meeting Pres
dent Wilson and also seemed amuse
/ when | mentioned that America ha
never been given an opportunity
see that meeting registered in the
I most ubiquitous movies. The Vatica
is about the only place uninvaded )
10 the movie man. He has been in II
gardens but never in the sanctu1
sanctorum.
20 The Pope rose as we rose, and
h remember being surprised at his sma
y stature. During the entire conve
i, sation | had gathered somehow SUI
# consciousness that | was talking vii
!. a man physically as big as his brain.
10 His holiness gave me particul'
n blessing for the X. of c. and the
10 praised warmly the vast reconstfu
. ton and employment work undertal
,s en- by the knights. He selected SON
If souvenirs from a small book ca
and gave them to Mr. Heorn and m
l. self, inviting us to his private chap
10 for mass in the morning. Then
er playfully babe us good morning
ic both English and French. You
going to be in Rome for some time
d. said his holiness" SO we shall 81
much of each other and the next tin
we shall talk in Italian" Outside
4