The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-04

foreign ministry of a lay govern ment, Eugenio surprised his friends and superiors with a tremendous energy that permitted him to get through an extraordinarily heavy schedule every day. His inner energy also caused him to take a profess sorial post at his alma mater, the pontiflcal seminary of Saint Appoli- narius.
 His work at the seminary widened his knowledge of canonical law but he was SO painstaking in his duties that Gasparri prevailed upon him to give up the extra burden in order to devote all of his time to diplo- matic affairs at the Vatican.
 Gasparri was rapidly coming into prominence in these early years of the 20th century that were forerun- ners of the fame he was to acquire later in such diplomatic missions as negotiation with Italian Premier Benito Mussolini of the Lateran ac- cords which ended 59 years of strife between church and state in Italy.
 Under his direction, Eugenio rose in influence and position. He became member of the high commission dealing with extraordinary church affairs. Several years late, Gasparri entrusted him with his first major task which was completing and scientifically reorganizing canon law.
 Eugenio's contribution to this task was of great importance and Vati- can officials viewed it as essential to the drawing up of 8 new code of canon law, which was published in 1917.
 During the last years of the reign of Pope Leo XIII, Gasparri had been elevated to the College of Car dinals and made under-secretary of state. Eugenio was promoted to be undersecretary of extraordinary af- fairs, a post in which he continued under Pope Plus x. Plus x, too, was impressed by the young undersecre.. tary and he made him his personal prelate. :.
 In. these years, Eugenio devoted almost all of his spare time to study of history and political geography. He asked Plus x for permission to resume his teaching and his request was granted. On Cardinal Gasparrfs recommendation, he was given the chair of canon law at the Pontifical Academy of Noble Eccles- iastics. These double duties he con- tinued until 1914 and at the same time managed to collaborate with Cardinal Gasparri in writing books. One of these was juridical work entitled, Personality and 'Territial- ity of Laws with Special Attention to Canon Law" It was published in 1912 and is considered an outstand- ing treatise on Canon law.
 In 1910, Eugenio made his first trip abroad in an official capacity-a forerunner of his voyages to almost every part of the world as papal legate under Pope Plus xI. He was a member of the pontifical mission headed by Cardinal Granite Pigna- telli, present dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals, which rep resented the Vatican at the corona ton of King George V and Queen Mary in London.
 When Benedict XIV became Pope in 1914, he made Eugenio the sec- retary general of the holy ccngre- gation, a post second in importance only to that of papal secretary of state in the Vatican diplomatic branch. The fact that Benedict XIV was essentially 8 political pontiff made the post still more important and the Pope frequently expressed his admiration of the ability and Prudence of his secretary general. It has been a testament to the | Ibrilliance of Plus XII that every Pope entering the Vatican almost immediately gave him full con- fidence and advanced him rapidly in his career.
 Benedict XIV, one of four Popes under whom he served, was so gratified by his work that he eleyat- ed him to the archbishopric of Sardi in April, 1917, and personally con- secrated him in a ceremony at Sis tine chapel--where this week the cardinals cast the ballots which made him Pope.
 (Monday--Thc Diplomatic Career
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