POPE BENEDICT XV

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 57, 4 September 1914, Page 2

POPE BENEDICT XV

CARDINAL DELLA CHIESA ELECTED A PRELATE OF GREAT PROMISE (By T-jl 'graph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) (Received September 4, 8.9 a.m.) LONDON, 3rd September. Cardinal Delia Chiesa has been elected Pope, and has chosen the title of Benedict XV. [James Delia Chiesa was born at Pegli, in the diocese of Genoa, on 21st November, 1854, and, after having completed his studies in the Ca'pranican College and the Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics, Rome, was ordained priest in 1878. In 1883 he accompanied Monsignor (afterwards Cardinal) Rampolla to Madrid" as Auditor of the Papal Nunciature, and with him he returned to Rome in 1887 to serve as subordinate to the great Sicilian on tho nomination of the later as Secretary of SUite to the Pope. Monsignor Delia Chiesa remained there until 1901, when Leo XIII. appointed him to the post of Substitute to the Papal Secretary of State and Secretary of the" Cipher. _ On 16th December, "1907, Phis X. appointed him Archbishop of Bologna, and the Holy Father honoured him by personally consecrating him in the Sistine Chapel. Less than seven years of prudent administration in the important See of Bologna won for him a place in the Sacred College, and he was created Cardinal in May of the present year. It may be noted that one of his predecessors as Archbishop of Bologna, who* afterwards became Pope, was the famous Benedict XIV., one of the most erudite men of his time and probably the greatest scholar amongst the Popes. It is more than likely the new Pope has chosen the, name of Benedict in honour of his great predecessor, who died in 1758. The present Pope's whole career until his appointment as Archbishop of Bologna was in the immediate service of Leo XIII. and Cardinal Rampolla in the office of the Secretary of State, and there he would undoubtedly receive a training that eminently fits him for the exalted position to which he has now been called.] Although the Conclave's selection of Cardinal Delia Chiesa has not been expected in many parts of the world, the people of Italy may not be surprised. Thero were Cardinals at the Conclave much better known than Benedict XV., but the worth of the new Pope was evidently > well known to his colleagues ; otherwise the decision would have required more than three ballots. Very important points in Cardinal Chiesa's favour (says a well-informed Wellington priest) were the. facts that he had been chosen for important work by two exceptionally good judges of men— the late Cardinal Rampolla, a brilliant Prince of the Church, and Popo Pius X. The late Supreme Pontiff was one who looked for solid qualities, capacity for work, and proper piety in men for high office, and his personal consecration Of Delia Chiesa was a splendid testimonial from one who was never influenced by the rank, title, or other worldly element. Prior to the outbreak of war it was widely believed that the Conclave of Cardinals would elect a member of a ndtion outside Italy. The prospects of Cardinal Gasquet, England's eminent prelate, ( were bright, but the clash of the nations evidently induced the Conclave to prefer neutral Italy. The choice of an Englishman or Frenchman or German at such a time would not be ' advisable. This is also a time when a Pope needs a great grasp of the whole system of Church government, and as the administration is connected with the wide world, a specially trained director is necessary. For this purpose Delia Chiesa's apprenticeship under the ' famous Rampolla would have fitted him for the highest positions of trust and government. *