The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-10
APOSTLE OF PEACE, PROGRESS
Healed Breach With Italy by Notable Pact; Vatican
 Modernlzed In Reign

bAHbutte S"NSSps'N WI wv - his tlme--
 So may be described Pope Plus Xf, who, as Achille Ratti, lived . simple, uneventful life until ho was 6i, then, moving toward the twilight of his career, rose to position of worldwide power and prestige,
 Born in the little town of Desio, il miles from Milan, Italy, on May 3i, 1857, the future supreme pontlff of the Roman Catholic Church came of peasant stock turned weavers and spinners. His father managed a small spinning mill In Desio and nieager iFi- come made it difficult to achieve his ambition of giving his children adequate educations.
 But the brilliant mentality of Achille Ratti made it certain that no obstacle would prevent him from becoming learned. In the seminarles near Milan which he attended In his youth, he showed amazing aptitude for mathematics, canon law, theology, and philos- ophy.
 ORDAINED PRIEST IN 1879
 At 22 he was sent to Rome to complete his studies at the Col- legio Lombardo. There he took his degrees and on Dec, 20, 1879, he was ordained q priest, cele- brating his first mass the next day.
 In 1882 he was appointed to teach dogmatic theology and sacred eloquencc in Milan and there hc remained for six years, until he was selected as doctor of the Ambrosian library. Here 1t seemed that the learned chureh- man had found his life work, for he settled down to course of study that lasted for 20 years.
 His books occupied his time for II months In the year, but In the month given to him as a vacation period Achille Ratti enjoyed to the full the life of m outdoor man. His especial joy was mountain climbing and few were the dini- cult Alpine trails which he did not ascend.
 The old marked routes were not for him, as he demonstrated in 1889, in reaching the summit of Mount Rosa, more than i5,000 feet above sea level, over new path which was named after him. NAMED LIBRARY PREFECT
 Along an even, uneventful course the future Pope went until 1914, when he was appointed pre-. feet of the Vatican library. There he was brought into closer con- tact with the dignitaries of the church and won their favorable attention.
 If he looked forward 10 spend- ing the remainder of his time in peaceful study and research, he was doomed 10 disappointment. In 1918, he was dispatched as apostolic visitator 10 Poland, just emerging as . new nation from the postwar chaos. During the conflict between Poland and the new Soviet state, he remained in Warsaw.
 Returning to italy, after peace had been restored, he was ap- pointed in 1921 as cardinal and archbishop of Milan.
 Just a year later, Pope Bene- dict XIV died. As a cardinal, Achille Ratti left for Rome, to attend one of the worlds most solemn assemblies, for the election of a pope.
 CROWNED AS POPE
 Four days later he was elected, and six days after that crowned, supreme pontiff.
 The reign of Plus xI is regard ed as one of the most notable in church history. Outstanding was his accomplishment as a peace- maker. in settling a dispute which had made popes prisoners in the Vatican" for nearly 60 years
 In a pact and concordat signed with the Italian government in February, 1929. the temporal power of the popes was re- established without impairing the unity of Italy.
 But fame other than that which accrues to peacemaker came to Pope Plus xI. As a builder, keep ing pace with his era. the pontiff excelled all his predecessors. He renovated Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence. He in- stalled in the Vatican three broadcasting stations, markets, a postoffice. powerhouses, railroad station, jail, and governors pai- ace. and modernized the Vatican library.
 Plus XI won fame as a working pope. The sturdy health of this short. thick-set, square -shouldcred man of the outdoors always car- ried him through long days of toll. extending from 2 a. m. to l a. m.-l8 hours daily on duty for his church and its 300.00O,O0O worshipers.
 STRIFE BRINGS SORROW
 Into the later years of the regime of Pope Plus came sorrows which affected him deeply--espe- cially the situations in Mexico, Spain. and Russia.
 But through them all, in his encyclicals and in his counsels to his leaders, the supreme pontifi held to policy of moderation. He counselled patience and for bearance, in the hope that out of the bloodshed and turmoil would come the peace and understand ing for which he worked with such steadfast purpose all his eventful life.