The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-07-12
HALF HOUR WITH HIS HOLINESS

ment, and then said, quite suddenly.
you Americans are magnificent at
organization. 1t would be splendid
if here, Italy, we could have such an
organization as you represent. Such
an organization would achieve won
derful things for Italy, would serve
Italy just as the Knights of Columbus
are serving the United States"
He spoke of what a good impress
sion the Knights of Columbus club
next to the Minerva Hotel in Rome,
had made upon the Catholics of Rome.
He hoped that some such club could
be permanently maintained. The
people of Rome were profoundly
affected, he said, by the soldierly con-
duct of the American soldiers and
sailors who were the guests of the
K. of G. in Rome, and this was true
of all other parts of Italy where
| Americans had been located.
His Holiness expressed delight
when | told him that Cardinal MERCER
intended to visit the United States
as the guest of the Knights of Co.
| MERCER is unbounded.
Then the Pope spoke in general
terms of the coming peace. He hoped
| and prayed it would be worthy of the
millions of young men who had per-
ished in order that it might come to
the world.
Reverting again to his visitors he
spoke entertainingly of Rome, indicat-
ing some of the magnificent churches
we should visit before leaving Rome
He then went on to describe his
pleasure in meeting President Wilson
and also seemed amused again when
[ mentioned that America had never
been given an opportunity to see that
meeting registered in the almost
ubiquitous movies. The Vatican is
about the only place uninvaded by
the movie man. He has been in the
gardens; but never in the sanctum
sanctorum.
The Pope rose as we rose, and |
remember being surprised at his
small stature. During the entire con-
versation | had gathered somehow a
subconsciousness that | was taking
with man physically as big as his
brain.
His Holiness gave me a particular
blessing for the K. of c. and then
praised warmly the vast reconstruct
ton and employment work under
taken by the Knights. He selected
some souvenirs from small book
case and gave them to Mr. Ahearn
and myself, inviting us to his private
chapel for Mass in the morning. Then
he playfully babe us good morning
in both English and French. "You
are going to be in Rome for some
time," said His Holiness. $50 we shall
see much of each other and the next
time we shall talk in Italian" Out
side we read the time as 12:47. We
had entered the papal study at 12:15
1t was rather bewildering to leave the
presence of the man who holds the
spiritual allegiance of over three
hundred millions of Christians.
On the following morning we at
tended Mass in the Popes private
chapel, the most modest little chapel
in Rome, contrasting strangely with
the great, monumental churches with
their rich marbles and precious
paintings and other ornaments. From
the Pope's hand we received Com
munion, and after the Mass he knelt
through another Mass of Thanksgiv-
ing and then passed down the center
aisle Of the little chapel blessing those
in attendance
It. was when I had left Rome
when | met Monsignor Cerretti in
Paris that he informed me that the
Pope had designated me a Knight of
ST. Gregory and that Archbishop
Hayes would bestow the Symbols of
knighthood upon me when | returned.