POPE'S LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 212, 7 September 1922, Page 4

POPE'S LIFE.

. KONG ROUND OT WORK. AFFAIRS OF THE CHURCH. PvOMT., August 2G. The daily life of Pope Pius XL at the Vatican is" marked by simplicity, inces- j sunt work, and regular exercise. He, labours.from 15 to 10 hours a day, sleeps i from six to seven hours, and plays two hours. His meals are taken while he examines his mail or gives directions to. his secretaries. His play consist* of aj vigorous military march seven or eight | times around Hie Vatican pardons, mak-j ing live or six miles, and this he does . ruin or slime. His Holiness takes personal charge of. the direction of tin- affairs of the Church, j assigning the routine to his secretaries. I The diplomatic letters, which attracted , so much attention during the Gvnoa Con- j ference, were the personal work of the j Holy Father. j lie reads nnd delves into the rich collertion of Vatican books assiduously.; So insistent is he. sometimes, in seeking just the thought he wants that some of the prelates have been compelled lo use j a "gentle violence" in urging him, when the night has crept far on, to seek repose. His energy astonishes the papal household. Recently, when it was suggested to him that he was working far too hard. Pius XI. replied: — "You know that when one is matlv Pope life is finished. All then is in the hands of (lod. I will do nothing to preserve my life one day more, but I will work until Cod says, 'It is vinougb.' The Pope rises at C'iO o'clock every morning and says mass in his private chapel l*>fore breakfast, which is at 8 o'clock. This meal consists of coffee with milk, bread and butter. The mail is brought in while he eats, and the Pontiff . divides it among his seven secretaries lor , attention and aaswers. I At 0 o'clock Cardinal (iasparri. Secretary of State, is received in the papal ! , chamber every day except Tuesday and . Friday. On Tuesday Monsignor ttorgon-gini-Duca, the pro-secretary for extra- : ordinary ecclesiastical affairs, is re- | reived, and on Friday Monsignor Pi/.- , f-ardo. the substitute secretary of state, 'mc hour is assigned to each for the dis-, ; -Ussion of affairs. j At 10 o'clock the Pope commences his ' i irivatc audiences, receiving cardinals, ; lishops, prc.ates, high civil personages, i liplomats, and nobles. These confer- ' ■nccs last until 1 o'clock, when the pub- , i.' audiences begin. For an hour the : loly Father receives pilgrims, nssocia- j ions and various organisations who ■', oin,. to Home to pay homage to him. At . 1 p.m. the master of the papal house- , lohl, Monsignor (-'accia-Dominionc. is eceived and places before His Holiness ''. he list of audiences for the succeeding '. lay and asks for their approval. ] DAILY WALK. ' Tlie Pope lunches usually at 2.30, ' Vhile he eats alone there are several d iiis secretaries present to receive ! irders and discuss matters particular to heir charge, 'l'he Pontiff also has addiional letters read to him and gives in- ' tractions for the replies. The meal is ' rmple. His Holiness is a great lover ! if rice done in the Milan style. Then '. ollows cutlets, or perhaps chicken. But ! he Pope is not exacting: he lias never ieen known to refuse any dish placed '•' iefore him. A few vegetables and some , mil complete the meal. : A feature of the day which is never ; I eglected is the walk. Promptly at .'s.3o • i.m. the Pope enters bis carriage antl is 1 riven to the gardens. Here he walks J ' ive or six miles briskly. Kven on this 1 riiiuji there is work. His Holiness will i avo at his side some prelate with whom < c wants to confer. He will go into full I clails of the matter in hand while 1 lalkinji and issue his instructions. j • N'ICIITI.Y STL'DY. ) At. .">.:',.') the Pontill returns to the ! apal apartments. Audience., begin ! i gain and lie receives cmdinuis. arch- ' 1 lishops and other prelates in private ' i udience. These conferences are ' > c'icdiilo.l to end at S..KI o'clock, but on 1 evasions of importance they continue j i vi li later. ' \ Supper is served as a ride at 11 o'clock. ' i "his, too, is very simple, consisting o; ; nly one or two dishes. After supper - 'ins XL goes to work again. At this i our he devotes l:im-elf to the coraposiion of important Vatican communica- i ions, later going to the library u> re.ul i nd work. lin uue ncca-ion recenth ii-- i cpt the library lights burning until 1 ] dock in the morning. j ,