The New York herald., 1922-02-07
ABLE DIPLOMAT
AND ALPINE CLIMBER
Supporter of Reconciliation
With Quirinal, He Kept
Poland in Church.

Pope Plus NJ. was one or the latest
XIV. Only six months have passed since
he succeeded Cardinal Ferrari as Arch
bishop of Milan. He has been one of
the strongest supporters of Beuedicts
policy Of reconciliation between the
Quirinal and the Vatican. His great
work was done in Poland at the close Of
the war when he was sent to Warsaw
TO look after the inerests OF the church
in those days of confusion. He is said
to possess an iron physique and as a
mountain climber has assembled some Of
the greatest peaks in the Alps.
Pope Plus XI. was born Achile Ratti,
at Desio. in the Brianza, March 81 1857.
He was ordained priest in Rome in
1879 and celebrated his first mass over
the tomb OF st. Peter in the Vatican
In 1888 he organized the Association Of
Catholic Schoolmistresses at Milan. In
1883 he was appointed to the staff Of
the College of Doctors of the Ambrosian
Library of Milan, under the noted Mgr.
ceeded Mgr Ceriani as prefect in 1907
and four years later was summoned to
Rome as pro-prefect of the Library of
the Vatican There he was assistant to
father Ehrle. whom he succeeded in
1918.
On April 25. 1918. the late Pope sud
denly sent him to Poland as Apostolic
Vicar in order to/regulate the comrli-
Gated affairs OF the church there.
At the consistory of July 3. 1919, he
was made Archbishop Of Milan, and on
June IS. 1921, was created a cardinal.
Noted as a scholar, librarian and spir-
tual director. he also gained fame as
a daring mountain climber. For years
lie had been an active member Of the
Italian Alpine Club. and every summer,
while engaged at the Milan Ambrosian
Library. would leave his pursuits there
and set out equipped with alpenstock.
nneroid. barometer and typographical
maps He achieved a mountain climbing
record in 1889. when. starting from
Macugnaga. he made the first known
passage OF the Zumstein Mountain. This
feat has remained celebrated in Italian
Alpine records. and he wrote of it him
self in the Bulletin of the Italian Alpine
Club Of 1889:
Driven by the wind. insupportable at
this altitude, we descended till we found
a ledge nearly clear of snow, and took
what shelter we could for the night. The
aneroid indicated 1900 meters (about
Is, 900 feet) above sea level"
A few days after returning from this
climb he undertook the asce,.t of the
Matterhorn and achieved 1t successfully,
and the following year he climbed Mont
Blanc.
lie can boast or hav.ng celebrated
mass at greater altitude-nearer
heaven one might say-than any mem
Der of the Roman Catholic Church, with
the possible exception of st. Charles
Borromeo, his most noted predecessor as
Archbishop of Milan. He has compiled
che OF the most comprehensive and ex-
haustive works on the subjects of noun
taineering and Alpine adventure.
During his tenure of office as Papal
Nuncio to Poland his diplomatic influ-
ence was active, and it was largely
through his efforts that two important
articles were introduced into the con-
stitution Of the new State, the first de-
termining that the Catholic religion oc-
cupy first position in the Polish State.
the second establishing that no meas
ures concerning the Catholic Church
may be taken without preliminary agree
ment with the Holy See.