THE POPE AND HIS CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE POPE AND HIS CORRESPONDENCE.

A Rome correspondent writes: The other day, as I was leaving the Vatican, I met a postman at the bronze doors, who groaned as he walked, while the perspiration rolled from his face. To my sympathetic inquiries he growled out that he wished the Vatican had to carry their own letters. In fact, about 20,000 newspapers and letters arrive there daily, all of which have to be sorted, opened, and classified, and for this purpose a special staff is kept at the Apostolic Palace. The Pontiff is supposed to open and read all communications addressed " Sanctitati Suae Leoni Papa; XIII., eliciter regnanti;" but as that would be impossible, even to a strong man, Cardinal Rampolia, Secretary of State, has it done under his direction, submitting to the Pope the most important and pressing communications. However, there are some documents the opening of which by any other than the Pontiff is punished by excommunication. These are addressed "To His Holiness the Pope, Prefect of the Holy Roman and Universal Inquisition." • Also those which go through the hands of the diplomatists accredited to the Vatican are read by the Head of the Church. Of newspapers,' Leo XIII. each day glances through about seven or eight, Italian and French, also many translated extracts from English, German, and even Russian ones, which have been specially prepared for him. It has caused surprise in many quarters that Leo XIII. is so well informed about outside matters as he is, as of course it would be supposed that when extracts are made from papers only what the reader desires comes before him. But the Pontiff is ve .y shrewd, and reads the French and Italian journals so thoroughly that he has a very good idea whenever anything is being kept from him, and insistsand has his way— having full reports. This was the case with the war in South Africa. At first he was kept in ignorance of what the English papers said, but he soon noticed it r made inquiries, and afterwards followed the telegrams from day to day with intense interest.