The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-08-06
tBy N. c. w. C. News Service. }

AiOHUaouUp DOudfeHluT6 C0rTeLCl,
whose appointment as Papal Nuncio
to Paris marks the resumption of
diplomatic relations between the
French Republic and the Vatican after
lapse of fifteen years, has had a
career of successful achievement in
the service of the Church which,
those who know him say, is founded
purely on merit, a willingness to
serve, and an unlimited capacity for
work of the most exacting nature.
He has served with distinction in the
Papal diplomatic service of Mexico,
the United States, and Australia, and
in the Secretariate of State at Rome.
He took up his residence in Paris
last Sunday.
He was born at Orvieto, June IT,,
1872. but his appearance is much
more youthful than his years wound
suggest. While still in the seminary
at Orvieto, he attracted the attention
of his superiors, who decided that he
should be sent to Rome. He dis
tinguished himself at. the Seminary
of the Vatican where he obtained his
degree of Doctor of Theology and
Canon Law. After completing his
course of study, he was retained as
Professor Of Literature, and while
holding this position found time to
attend courses at the University
which earned for him the degree of
Doctor of Letters and Philosophy
From the Seminary, Mgr. Cerretti
was sent to fill position in the
Penitenziaria Apostolica, one of the
tribunals of the Roman Curia, but
was soon transferred to the Office OF
the Secretary of State, in the Section
of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Al
fairs. The Secretary of Extraordinary
Ecclesiastical Affairs at that time was
Mgr. Gasparri, now Cardinal and
Secretary of State The then Assis-
tant Secretary of State was Mgr. Della
Chiesa, now Benedict XIV.
His Career in America.
In 1904, Mgr Serafini, who was later
| made Cardinal and died while Prefect
Of the Propaganda, was appointed
Apostolic Delegate to Mexico. Be-
cause of his fluent command of the
Spanish language, and his other
known qualities Of value in the
| diplomatic service, Mgr. Cerretti was
| sent to Mexico as Secretary to the
Delegate. His success here was mark
ed and in 1905 when the office OF
auditor at the Apostolic Legation at
| Washington became vacant, he was
appointed to fill it. He remained in
| America until 1914 and enjoyed an
exceedingly wide acquaintanceship
among the Catholic Hierarchy, clergy
and laity, as well as in non-Catho1ic
circles Of the national Capital and
| throughout the country.
When the new Apostolic legation to
Australia was established in 1914,
| Mgr. Cerretti was consecrated Arch
bishop, first of the titular See of
! Filippopoli and later transferred to
the titular See of Corinth, and was
sent to Australia. In that country he
speedily attracted favorable attention
and his work there proved invaluable
| to the Church.
When, in 1917, Mgr. Pacelli was sent
| as Nuncio to Munich, Pope Benedict
at the suggestion, it is said, OF
Cardinal Gasparri, recalled Arch.
bishop .Cerretti to Rome and appoint
! ed him Secretary of Extraordinary
Ecclesiastical Affairs.
VIII be Welcomed to Paris.
His appointment as Nuncio to Paris
has been hailed with approval by of.
ficials of the French government, and
! by the Partisan and provincial press
1t is felt in France that his coming
may do much to remove the remaining
traces of i'll feeling between the Third
| Republic and the Vatican which arose
over the passage of the laws provid
| ing for the separation of Church and
State in France during the early years
of the present century, and which
/ eliminated in the withdrawal of Mgr
i Lorenzelli, the Papal Nuncio, from
Paris, after the Republic had announc
ed the severance of diplomatic rela
tions.
Mgr. Cerretti's thorough knowledge
of modern international law and
j practices has attracted worldwide at
/ tention. Much of this knowledge he
owes to his experience as Auditor OF
i the Apostolic Legation in Washington
where he was brought in contact with
! the best intellects in modern
diplomacy and influenced by the free
and vigorous atmosphere of the Ameri
lean Capital. "a
Duties Of Nuncio.
/ There is considerable misunder
standing in many instances concern
4 ing the powers and duties of Nuncio
He really holds a double position
4 first as the representative Of the Pope
to the head of the State to which he
lis accredited; and second as the rep
Preventative of the Pontifical author
'Iity in relation to the clergy of the
country. His position differs from
that of the ordinary diplomatic rep
Il resentative, in that, he represents {
sovereign whose spiritual subjects are