The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-01-04
TALKS TO STUDENTS

made the most of my opportunity to
see the Pope and other members OF
the Roman Curia. | am glad to say
chat I became very we'll acquainted
with them all.
Pope Leo XII.
\ 7 was invited to call on Pope Leo.
II had told Cardinal Rampolla, the Pa
pal Secretary of State, that l would
TRANSACT my business with him, as |
supposed the Holy Father was not
able to do much. He shook his head,
smiled and said: You will be sur
prised to see how strong and healthy
he is
When | called on Pope Leo the first
time, l had an hours audience with
him. | was amazed at his strength
and vigor l had seen him a few
years ago and he was very feeble and
weak He began to speak to me very
kindly, and l stopped him for mo-
ment and said:
Holy Father, permit me to inter
rupt you for moment to tell you how
| amazed and glad am to see you look
so we'll You are 81 now. l hope you
will live to see ten more years in gov
erning Gods Church.
He smiled and said: IF God so
Wills it," He did not seem in any
hurry to leave me.
When a Pope gets too old to guide
and govern the Church, it is time for
him to go, but Leo's mind is clear
and bright. He takes wonderful in
terest in all that is going on in the
world. He has universal knowledge
of men and affairs. He knows the
condition of things in America very
well. He knows the leading states
men in Europe and their leading traits
and peculiarities, what legislation is
being attempted, and whether it is for
the good of the Church or not In.
deed, | constantly had to be on my
| guard when speaking of affairs in the
| Philippines and Cuba, lest I should
show myself less acquainted with
| them than he was.
l assisted Pope Leo in function at
st. Peters in company OF the Car
| dinals. He vested four affairs. He
| walked so fast and briskly from one
| altar to another as to give the old
| Cardinals of 60 or 70 hard work to
| keep up with him, and l was tempted
to tell him that he walked faster than
| gravity permitted.
Roman Cardinals.
| Cardinal Rampolla, Secretary OF
State, is tail, ascetic-loeking man
with a universal knowledge of affairs
which the Germans call Real Politik'
He is thoroughly posted On all tne
events of the world. | had long con
| versations with him, but he likes
more to draw you out than to be
| drawn out. However, | am very FOND
of him and we had many delightful
conversations together.
| Rome is the center of the world
! An article in the North American
Review for December, by D'Annunzio
a man that is not religiously disposed
but fair-minded enough, shows that
Italy is the creature of the Papacy
The Papacy has made Italy what it is
and if Italy wishes to get along wei
in the future she must recognize the
just claims of the Church.
| also met Cardinal Ledochowski
project of the Propaganda. He is q
noble-appearing cid Cardinals per
| feet gentleman in his department. He
| is a man of wide experience in affairs
| He is a Pole and was trained as g
! papal legate in many cities of Europe
He speaks seven languages f1uently
and is we'll qualified for his position
| was surprised to see the knowl
edge of languages displayed in Rome
| The antecamera to the Secretary
! Office is the best place to study the
classes of people who visit Rome
| They are of every race and tongue
and show the wOrld-character of the
| Church. Three Bishops spoke three OF
four languages to different people ant
| then addressed me in good English
A man is not educated unless he knows
three or four languages-English
| German French and perhaps Italian
| These are the four great languages
of the polite and social world. If yol
wish to add any Of the eXtraordinar,
languages to these, SO much the bet
ter.
/ made it a special point this time
to interview the members of the Curia
I think | know them now as we'll az
any mere traveller can know them.
called on one each day for month
They work from 10 to - o'clock a
the Congregation meetings during the
week. Then they dine and have {
siesta. A siesta is allowed in these
warm climates, but is not to BIZ
| thought of in these bracing northern
climes. From to $50 p. ~, they al
take their afternoon drives. Ate
supper they either receive or return
visits.
| | saw most of the Cardinals eXcep
a few who are getting too old ant
feeble for active labors. l interviewed
the most important members who ar
mentioned among the SPapabili,' 81
that you will probably know. something
| of the next Pope when he is chosen
although the slightly bent Leo doe
not give any indication of lapsin,
| yigor vet Who the next Pope will be