The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-07-01
INTERVIEW WITH POPE Plus XI

glad was to meet the first Pope to
speak English, when he broke in with
the Italian, NO; | do not speak Eng
lish we'll; | understand it and every
word you said now; but we will speak
French" Then he turned to the
tongue of Moliere and spoke it quite
fuently and without the exaggerated
accent of foreigners-much better than
any of his predecessors, back to Leo,
at least.
The first impression gathered from
talking to Plus XI is one of strength
and confidence. He has already look
ed out upon the world from the
heights of Monte Vaticano and seen
all that disturbs ii and causes the
unrest of it's many nations. He has
seen this and is not perturbed. He is
Of intrepid faith. He knows all things
are possible in Jesus Christ whose
vicar he Is on earth, and he is going
to do them-prudently it is true, but
practically and zealously.
He is the Pope of the Restoration,
and he will renew all things in Christ,
effectually, thinking less of outward
appearance and passing impression
than of the real things of life; less of
religiOsity and more of religion; es-
teeming less the material which makes
us of the earth earthly, than of the
spiritual which lifts up to heavenly
desires; he will make a supreme eff
fort, safe principle, to bring peace and
amity to his sheepfOld-the entire hui
man race.
! But, Most Holy Father must CO."
said, 80 many are waiting. Bless
me and grant to me the favors | have
to ask of YOU mo; there is time
enough" he quickly replied, Il shall
tell them when am ready: l want to
talk about this"-and he opened
up matter of transcendant import
ance. / gave my own poor opinion
with some reluctance, and as time was
again heavily kicking at the door, |
rose and made by best obedience in
return. He tenderly blessed me; gave
me his hand to kiss and moving to
the door, beckoned the Master to him,
saying with decision in his tone: Il
want this Monsignore to come back
to me again; arrange a special audi
ence with time to talk fully" The
Maestro humbly acquiescing, he turn
ed to me and said: You will be here
some days yet and | shall see you;
and you will go to my Mass Thursday
in st. Peter's"-the Mass for the Eu-
chariStic Congress. So | departed
from him, as if walking on light air.
Have you seen Cardinal de Lai?"
he said to me, before left, and when
| answered that ! had not but that /
had seen Cardinal Merry del Val and
Cardinal Sbarretti (this latter is now
a power in Romeo, he added: Yes,
but see Cardinal de Lai; and talk
plainly to him on these matters
A New Rome.
But Rome is full of people. Rome is
packed with ecclesiastics, with Catho-
lie pilgrims, with every sort of Catho-
lie and many that are not Catholic at
all. Every hotel has already hung out
the sign Complete" which means
that there is no longer room at the
inn. Rome is growing with leaps and
bounds, and responding to an alto.
gether new current of life. Why this
new impetus, cannot say; but it is a
fact. saw a new Rome in the build
ing, today, in the open suburbs; and
there is much extension and repair
ing in the old city. The rents are
very high and everything that offers Is
quickly grabbed up. You cannot get
a place to board. Rome is surely
shaking off her ancient lethargy and
taking on a Chicago atmosphere
don't know which like best or worst;
but anyway, the Roman Renaissance
has really set in again.