The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-22

Vatican palace.
Soon after his ordination Father
Della Chiesa received an appoint
ment in the diplomatic service of
the Vatican Che had previously made
q special course and passed an ex-
animation in the Academy Of Noble
Ecclesiastics to lit him for this),
and he was sent to Spain as sub
ordinate to Archbishop Rampolla,
rid, afterwards the great secretary
of state to Leo kid. After a num-
Der of years passed In the Spanish
capital. Monsignor Della Chiesa
was recalled to Rome and appointed
deputy secretary OF state under
Cardinal Merry Del Val, which high
post he held until made archbishop
of Bologna.
Prince Of the Church.
To show his appreciation Of Mgr.
Della Chiesa's work. Plus X did
the prelate the honor of conse-
Grating him himself In the Sistine
Chapel. Bologna was to be Arch
bishop Della Chiesa's place of resi-
dence for the next eight or nine
years as busy. jealous chief pastor.
During those years he often paid
flying visits to the Eternal City,
and usually stayed as the guest Of
Mgr. Tiberghien. a Belgian. who.
by the way, IL a fast friend of the
American Catholic Extension So
ciety. and who. by almost the last
official act If Benedict XIV. was
made a titular archbishop. After
nine years another summons called
Archbishop Della Chiesa to Rome.
10 40
one of the seventy who have the
Vicar Of Christ.
In 1908 Plus the Tenth was elected
to the Papacy. and In 1914 amid
the clang of battle he died. I'm.
mediately all the members OF the
Sacred College hurried to Rome to
hold a conclave for the purpose Of
electing q successor. Neither Car
dinal Gibbons nor Cardinal O'Con-
nell, arrived in time for the final
voting, the latter because his auto
mobile broke down on the road be-
tween Naples and Rome. The only
American who took part in the
election was Cardinal Farley.
He who enters the conclave as
the new Pope" say the Romans,
always comes out q cardinal" The
fact remains that II IL the dark
horse that always wins In the cleo
ton for the Tiara The favortte
OF the press and Of the people,
never.
Kind Of Man We Want"
OF course the sessions Of q Papsl
conclave are held under secrecy.
But. with all this, details supposed
to be authentic 60 the rounds In
Rome among clergy and people as
to how things went on during the
election. One story recall as be-
was chosen head of the Catholic
Church in 1914. It runs as follows:
1t seems that the votes Of the
cardinals were going In favor of
Cardinal Serafini. project Of the
sacred congregation for the propa.
cation Of the faith. When this
became evident His Eminence arose
to address the august assembly in
these terms:
your eminences seem about
making q mistake. I shall not be
the new Pope. have not the
necessary qualifications for 50
high an office. Moreover I am
suffering from an incurable malady
30 that there In no use in your
having to come here again on the
same errand as now within a year.
But will you allow me to make q
suggestion? The man we want
now is one who has had wide ex-
perience as a diplomat and has had
also experience in the administra-
ton of a diocese. Such a one
sits In the spot on which my eyes
are nov fixed"
The seventy cardinals followed
the gaze Of Cardinal Serafini. 1t
rested on Cardinal Della Chiesa,
Archbishop of Bologna. At the
next balloting Cardinal Della
Chiesa was elected Pope.
Pope Benedict was below the me
dunn height. fragile looking. thin.
His countenance gave signs Of great
mental superiority, and II did not lie.
His life was that of an ascetic. He
rose at o'clock and said mass at 6,
hearing another mass Of thanks
giving afterward. At the Pope
partook of the slight Italian break
fast-a cup of coffee and milk and
a roll of light bread.
After breakfast the Holy Father
began to read the newspapers. He
was an omniverous newspaper
reader. And unlike Plus X, he got
a number Of papers and read. or
rather scanned "over one of them
Important items were previously
marked In blue pencil by Cardinal
Gasparri. Plus X used to be con.
tent with a number of clippings
from the chief dailies, and II was
the duty of one of his secretaries to
make up this little bunch of cuttings
every morning