New-York tribune., 1920-09-19
Pope Suffers From Rheumatism
But Refuses to Drop His Work
Benedict, Busy From Dawn Until Well Into Night ON
Many Troubling Questions, Continues at Desk i'm
Vatican, Hardest Toiling Sovereign i'm Europe

party q great deal OF annoyance, as
naturally the good Catholics will be
guided by the head of the Church
whatever their own personal views may
be.
It is for this reason that there is a
possibility that the Partito Populari, as
the new Catholic party is called. MAY
Pope's peaceful idea Of running the
country and the others who have used
every effort to form a Catholic con-
federation Of labor and who recently
urged the peasants of the Romagna to
strike during harvest time. 1t is
believed that it was due to his sugges-
tion that the Archbishop Of Genoa is
sued pastoral against the belligerent
members of the party.
Probably never have there been so
many serious questions to be attended
to as ct the present time. Beside the
position Of Poland, which as a Catholic
power has its legation at the Vatican,
and from which news is constantly be-
ing sent to the Pope, who has taken a
personal interest in its serious condi-
tion, there is that of the Holy Land,
where the missions are seriously men
aced by the Turks.
Palestine Situation
The appointment of the British High
Commissioner, Sir Herbert Samuels, is
not regarded as reassuring act on the
part Of England, owing to the fact that
the commissioner is Jew, whereas the
Catholics hoped that Gentle would
have been appointed. Although there
is really no reason for any apprehen-
sion, the missionaries are worried about
the holy places, especially as there was
a rumor that once the Zionist moveme Mt
nnwo~ oil $ho ho1u r1ocoa 4
be removed. This is so essentially false
that one wonders how people could
give 1t any credence.
Naturally the Pope receives alarm
ing letters, which, while not taken
seriously, are causing him much
thought. This, added to the recent
ant-Catholic spirit shown by Italian
Socialists in attacking professions in
the provinces of Tuscany and Liguria
bothera the Holy Father a great deal,
and it is believed by many in his en-
tourage that he finds, by receiving
pilgrims and visitors every day, he
keeps his thoughts away from unset
tied questions which worry him be-
cause he cannot find proper solution
Had he, the option Of getting away
months 1t is believed that his health
would benefit greatly, but, of course
as there is no possible chance of the
Roman question ever being settled, he
is really q prisoner in the Vatican
until his death.
American Catholics who visit Rome
are always keen on seeking some way
by which the Pope could get away, and
there have been several generous
Americans who planned to buy strip
Of land from the Vatican down to the
sea, SO that while still keeping to the
unspoken VOW of all Popes since 1870
not to stop in Rome, he could drive to
the seaport and sail away for his
holiday.
The idea was suggested during the
late Pope's pontihcate, but it was
hardly broached before it was dropped
1t is now considered one Of the lost
questions of the world, this of the
Pope's release from the Vatican, prob.
ably for the reason that it would need
a great deal Of planning, and at pres
ent even the Catholics in Rome take the
situation to be one which can never be
changed.