The Washington times., 1921-07-26
POPE ANNOUNCES
BISHOP CURLEY AS
NEW ARCHBISHOP
Youthful PreIate Will Succeed
Late Cardinal Gibbons at
Head of Baltimore Diocese.

The ttt. heV. michael D. 'oJ'
bishop Of st. Augustine, Fla. an
authority on church government. has
been named by Pope Benedict to sue
coed the late Cardinal Gibbons as
archbishop of Baltimore. In his new
post Bishop Curley will be head OF
the diocese which includes the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
The cablegram from Rome an
nouncing the selection made no other
announcement. 1t Ia unknown when
Bishop Curley will receive the pal
lium, which lie the mark Of his arch
episcopal office. 1t is probable the
ceremony of installation will take
place on October IL. his birthday.
This ceremony will bring to Balt-
more archbishops and bishops from
all sections OF the country. The cere-
mony will be the first installation OF
an archbishop In Baltimore In forty
five years. Cardinal Gibbons was In
stalled in September. 1875.
Is Youthful Prelate.
Tho Archbishop elect is one OF the
Youngest and one of the most brill
liant members of the American
hierarchy, which has on its lists men
who stand out from among their Tel
lows for their intellectual attain
ments and churchly zeal. When
Bishop Curley was elevated to the
seat Of St. Augustine in 1914 he was
the youngest member OF the he
rarchy, and was known as The
Baby Bishop He was only thirty
five years old at the time AMI had
been ordained priest only ten years
two unusual circumstances.
In this respect Bishop Curloy WAS
much like Cardinal Gibbons, who was
consecrated a bishop when he was
thirty.five years old, seven years
after his ordination. Until the con.
secration of Bishop Curicy. as far
as records attainablc show. there Was
no record even approaching that OF
the Cardinals.
Bishop Curley will now rank ms
the youngest archbishop in the
United States, a privilege enjoyed
for a time by Cardinal Gibbons. He
will be forty-fivo years old on Oc-
tober IL, next
Born In ireland.
The new head of the primatisl see
of the United States was born In
Athlone, Ireland He Is fellow
townsman of John Mccormack. the
singer. Between these two men there
exists a strong friendship. 1t IL said
that no matter what part Of the
country Mccormack is in on Christ
mas Day. ne calls up Bishop Curlsy
and sings Christmas hymns to him
over the ong-distance telephone.
The Archbishop-elect is intensely
in love with his native land, Is q
great student Of Irish history and
has every right to be called an
orator.
City Without Cardinal.
While the appointment may mean
that Baltimore will be without a
Cardinal for a few years. 1t means
also that in the natural course Of
events Archbishop-elect Curiey one
day will be raised to the Sacred Col
lege.
The appointment Of so young a man
as Bishop Curley to so important
position not only Is a recognition OF his
work In the past. but Catholics say, Is
an expression Of confidence as to his
work in the future. They also believe
he will be the second cardinal OF Bal
timore.
In recent weeks rumors had been
current that Archbishop Glennon, Of
st. Louis, or Archbishop Hanna, of
San Francisco, would be transferred to
Baltimore. According to the rumors,
the two archbishops are in line for
the robes Of a Cardinal, and 1t was the
desire of the Pope to place one OF them
upon the throne Of Baltimore and soon
afterward to confer upon the head of
the other the title OF Prince Of the
Church.
Not Inclined to Pomp.
The new archbishop is one Of the
most democratic Of mon, kindly in
spirit, alert and vigorous. 1t is said
that visitors to st. Augustine, Protes-
tants and Jews, as well as Catholics,
all call upon Bishop Curley. who dis
likes anything pertaining to pomp or
extreme Formally, and is ready to see
visitors at any and all times.
He Is not only a young man, but a
vigorous young man, who In his col
lege days was athletIcaIIy inclined. 1t
Is said that visitors to st. Augustine
have seen the bishop riding a bicycle
while making visits to friends or on
pastoral calls. A great student of
Irish history. he Ia a great believer In
Irish rights. and never has been slow
to proclaim In speech his devotions to
that country.
Bishop Curley, before being elevated,
was pastor of the Catholic Church at
Deland, Fla.