The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-13
BY MILTON BRONNER NEA Service Staff Correspondent


 There was little in his humble birth and early life to indicate that Achille Ratti would attain the high est rank in the Roman Catholic church and make his mark in his- tory as Pope Plus XI, the Peace maker. % His father, Francesca Ratti, was neither wealthy nor prominent. He was a plain citizen of the little town of Desio, in Lombardy, not far from Milan, Italy.
 In Desio, the future pope was born May 31, 1857. Here he spent his. boyhood days. AS there was no regular school in the village, Achille Ratti received instruction from one of the priests, and early was attracted to the priestly life.
 Later he attended a seminary and was a student in San Carlo College, Milan. This college was directed by the Oblates of Saint Charles, and Ratti joined them, receiving the diaconate at the age of 22.
 When he was sent to Rome to complete his studies, young Ratti joined the Lombardic College and attended courses at Gregorian University.
 Dec. 20, 1879, he was ordained to the priesthood in the basilica of St. John Lateran. For five years he taught in the Greater Semi ., r,, of AEuao hafora occ,,raioo a post in the famed Ambrosiana library in that city. LAYS STATECRAFT BASE
 Monsignor Ceriani, then pre- feet of the library, sent Father Ratti on missions to Paris, London, and Vienna. Later, in France, he met President Carnot and M. Poincare. Contacts made on these trips formed the base for the young priests later success in diplomacy.
 During his residence in Milan, Father Ratti also became chap lain to the Cenacle nuns and de- voted much time to the order.
 In free hours, he gave vent to his unusual energy in mountain climbing, and in 1889 became the first Italian to ascend the western side of Monte Rosa. Later he made other difficult ascents. He was probably the only pope in history who was an expert Alpinist.
 In 1909, upon the death of Mon- signor Ceriani, Father Ratti suc- ceeded him as prefect of the Am brosiana library, and proceeded to modernize the library with cata- logs and steel shelves. HEADS VATICAN LIBRARY
 His reputation as librarian spread to Rome. In 1912, Father Ratti was named prefect of the great Vatican library. He also was made Prothonotary Apostolic and Canon of st. Peters.
 At the close of the World War, Roman Catholic church conditions in Poland were chaotic. A deter mined hand was needed. So Pope Benedict XIV, who had succeeded Plus x, chose tour dear son Achille 'Ratti," for the post.
 Rattis first work was to nom- mate bishops to fill vacant sees. Then he set about raising the edu- cational standards of all priests, and threw himselr with fierce en- ergy into the creation of the Uni versity of Lublin. To his jurisdic- ton were added Lithuania, Es- thonia, Finland, Latvia, and Rus Sia.
 In July. 1919, he was made Papal Nuncio to Warsaw and titu- lar Archbishop of Lepanto. His greatest feats in those posts were the initiation of the concordat be- tween Poland and the Vatican, and his bravery during the siege of Warsaw by the Bolsheviks.
 ELEVATED TO CARDINAL
 When, i. 1921, the Archbiship of Milan, died, Ratti was named as his successor, and was elevated to the rank of cardinal.
 There is legend that after the consistory was over. the pope, in intimate conversation with the three new cardinals he had cre- ated that day, said: To-day, have given you the red; but, before very long, one of you will receive the white"
 Despite the significance of that statement, Cardinal .Ratti turned to his work at the Milan archdio- cese, deeming himself settled there for long career.
 But an event, of world import once more affected his destiny. Jan. 22, A922, Pope Benedict XIV died.
 Election to the office of pope probably was the last thought in Cardinal Ratti's mind. He was low in seniority among the cardinals, having worn the red hat less than a year.
 CHILDREN'S ACT PROPHETIC
 When he was leaving for the Conclave of Cardinals in Rome, a crowd of young girls offered Ratti bouquet of white flowers, telling him they were in color of the cloth es he soon would wear.
 No, mo-" was his reply, they are rather the color of the mantle of the Virgin Mary. Take them to her chapel"
 If, at a pope's election, the car- dinals are unable to make ma- jority, choice, the voting slips on that ballot are mixed with straw and burned, causing dark smoke to |
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