The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-01-01
PoNTiFF HEARS IRISH MARQUIS
DESCRIBE CONDITIONS IN ERIN
MARQUIS MAcsWlNEY FINDS
HIS HOLINESS Is FOLLOWING
EVENTS IN IRELAND WITH
GREATEST ATTENTloN-"Ho
SEES VISION CANNOT BE DIM.
MED"

MED"
(By N. c. w. c. News Service)
Marquis MacSwiney, after an alb
sence of ten years, has returned to The
Eternal City to remain for some time
writes Monsignor Pucci. Taking ad
vantage of the Marquis kindness,
have deemed it interesting to obtair
and report his impressions respecting
the pitiable condition in Ireland--s
condition of which he could we'll be
one of the most authoritative expo
nents in Rome.
Il have no difficulty in giving yor
my impressions about Rome" said the
Marquis, especially as they are ex
cellent in all respects, and consequent
ly l can speak the truth and all the
truth without fear of causing pain OF
displeasure to any one. l fear, how
ever" the Marquis continued with a
smile, chat what l have to say will
not be interesting to your readers, who
doubtless would prefer news of pc
litical character, while, as you know
| am concerned with history and arch
aeology, and in small way, also with
industrial and commercial questions
AS for politics. will have nothing to
do with them, at least for the pres
ent.
Denies Special Mission.
Just imagine, hardly had I been in
Rome a few days when the news
spread, and was at once published and
repeated by several newspapers
Catholic and others-that my coming
was due to some confidential mission
q don't know what one) entrusted to
me by the Irish Episcopate. | at once
denied these reports, although this was
almost superf1uous, since every one in
the Curia knows that our Episcopate
has an official representative to the
Holy See in the person of Rev. Doc,
tor Hagan, the excellent Rector of
the Irish College, who is esteemed and
respected by all and who has no need
of any one to help him in fulfilling his
task, no less important than delicate.
Impressions of Pope.
"Since your arrival in Rome you
have been received twice in audience
by the Holy Father. You had not
seen him for long time. Have you
found him much changed?'
''The last time I had the honor OF
seeing Monsignor della Chiesa was in
1908, when he went from Rome tC
Bologna, to take possession Of that
Archiespiscopal See," the Marquis re
piled. Il have found Benedict XIV
slightly stouter, which gives his fea
lures a softer expression, and his hail
is grayer. This is not surprising in
view of the many heavy preoccupa
lions that have engaged him for the
last six years. But these are the only
changes I have observed in him; he
has still the same erect, slim figure
the same quick step, the same digni
fed bearing, the same courtly and af
fable manner, the same elegance OIL
speech, and above all, the same frank
confident, keen look-the look that
brings to mind that of his illustrious
predecessor, Leo XIII
Discusses Conditions in Ireland.
could you tell me, Marquis, upor
what subjects your conversation will
the Holy Father turned?"
Really, this is a bit too much" h,
replied indulgently. Cali 1 can say il
that, besides strictly personal matters
we spoke naturally of the presen
state of things in my poor country
whose sufferings are coming to b.
better known abroad. That for Ions
time the Vatican has been well &C
quainted with them is fact which
ascertained Immediately on my arriva
here. Contrary to what l heard some
times stated in Ireland before depart
ing for Italy, the Pope is perfectly in
formed of conditions in Ireland, ant
day by day follows events there witt
the greatest attention.
Ellis Eminence Cardinal Gasparri
Secretary OF State, and the young Pre-
lates, Monsignor Cerretti and Tede
schini, who fill SO worthily the i'm
portant offices of Secretary of the Cor
gregation of Extraordinary Ecclesias
tical Affairs and Substitute of the Set
retariat of State, respectively, ar
keenly interested in the conditions i
Ireland, not only because they hav
| always felt deep personal sympath
for the most intensely Catholic peopl
of Europe, but also because they ar
quite aware that if a right solutio
of the Irish question is not readil
found, terrible consequences will r,
suit, too fearful even to be thought O
and which perhaps will be more di
astrous for England than for Irelan
herself"
Questions of ReprisaIs.
What is said at the Vatican abol
the campaign of so-called reprisals S
much spoken of at present, and abol
which there was recently demonstr
ton in the Italian Parliament in fave
of Ireland?"
This is question OF political cha
acter, and as l said before, l do nj
mean to enter or to be drawn on
l IL n