The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-21

r.
Perrin put ont one Of hcr innum-
erabae peace 'feeiergr Benedict,
IN reply. insisted Germany must
top hsr deportation % Belgian etst
tIiafs and tepatriatega All exiies In
.September, 1913 tie TatIcansfInaliy
announced IT would take steps 10.
ward bringing about peace only
when invited 10 do 60 by both
groups OF bellIgtfens.
Panied by the sheIling OF Paris
by the German long range guns
IN the spring Of 1918, Pope Bene.
dict sent a protest TO Emperor
Charles OF Austria and to the Der.
LIN government against what he
characterized as "a Wanton massa.
ere"
The Pop6,s qualification over the
capture of Jerusalem by the Allies
under the British General Allcnby,
caused bitter comment in the Ger.
man press. According to the Rome
Nessagero on December Is, 1917, a
Few days after the fall Of the EIoly
City, he warned Christian states
against aiding the Turks In re-
capturing II.
Pope Benedict's attitude toward
the Peace Conference Of 1919 " :
said to have been one OF fatherly
solicitude. Early the previous De-
in a letter to President
Wilson, he pleaded for aid on be.
half Of oppressed Municipalities and
later committed the church OF
which no was tho head to do all
in its power to support the de-
cisions of the delegates at Yer
sailles." In all OF his messages and
addresses he expressed the hope
that peace would be based upon
Christian principles.
While the peoples Of every land
were suffering in some form tho
rig0rs Of war, the Pope personally
Observed all the rules for food con-
serSation formulated by the Italian
authorities and with his own hand
ordered the Vatican on food card
rations which continued until the
ind Of the conflict.
| Always abstemious In eating and
drinking Benedict XIV. observed
even greater simplicity at the Ia.
BILE during the troublous days Of his
lpontificate. Visitors have said that
he lived as plainly as the poorest
contributors Of Peters Pence.
Giacomo della Chiesa, the spirit
ual head Of 300,000,000 Catholics,
was born Of noble line at Pegli.
Italy, on November 81, 1854. His
father was the Marchese della.
Chiesa, pronounced Keeazn) He
received his education at the
iCapronican college and later attend
led the Academy Of Ecclesiastics.
Ordained to the priesthood in 1873
he soon attracted the attention Of
cardinal RompoIla, who under Pope
Leo XIII. was the Papal Secretary
Of State. He accompanied Ram.
poila to Madrid in 1883 when his pa.
iron was Nuncio, remaining there
until 1887 when he returned. to
Rome upon the elevation Of Ram.
ipolla to the Cardinalate.
In 1901, after having served four
years as secretary OF the Nuncia.
ture in Spain, he was appointed
Secretary Of the CIPHER. This po-
sition gave III incumbent consider.
able authority and the same year
Mgr. della Chiesa was named as
Consultor of the Holy Office.
A notable promotion came to him
on December 16, 1907, when Pope
lPiux x. appointed della Chiesa as
Archbishop OF the important See OF
Bologna TO succeed the late Cardi.
nal Svampa, His administration OF
this office for seven years was
characterized, It is said, by pru.
dence and diplomacy. His conse.
Grafton as an Archbishop was per.
formed by Plus himself in the Sis
tine Chapel, an honor SO unusual
that It attractefd worldwide atten.
ttion. Archbishop della Chiesa was
made a Cardinal in May 1914, less
than six months before mounting
the throne OF st. Peters.
He took his ecclesiastical title
from Pope Benedict XIV, one Of
the ableSt pontiffs OF the church,
who was born in Bologna on March
81, 1857! and died on May 3, 1858.
Benedict Xv.'s personal appear
ance has been described as follows:
IA man physically ill.favored but
gifted with great intelligence: short
OF stature, ascetically thin, with the
right shoulder raised above the left,
and giving onethe impression OF ex.
tremo nervousness and weakness.
But he raised his head tho visitors
i~ustiuctively felt that they were
In the presence OF a man equipped
with exceptional intellectual powers
and energy. He reminded one OF
the noted poet, Leopard. With an
ample brow. surrounded BY coal
black hair, black eyes, lively and
penetrating, a large mouth with
thin lips full of expression, the
Pope conveyed the impression OF a
man OF few friendships but these
most sincere, devoted and lasting"
Always 20 friend in need" as a
prelate Of his church once said Of
him, Pope Benedict demonstrated
his readiness to avert hardship to
poor people by advancing $1,000.
600 to save a financial institution
OF Rome from bankruptcy In the
spring Of 1915. This was in keep
ing with his reputation from the
time he was ordained a priest in
1873 to the day OF his death. When
The was made q Cardinal 1t was
with difficulty that no was able to