BISHOP GRIMES' IMPRESSION OF THE POPE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9796, 16 July 1903, Page 2

BISHOP GRIMES' IMPRESSION OF THE POPE.

Bishop Grimes, who has visited the Pope five or six times, told a Christchurch Press interviewer that he was always struck with the Pope's wonderful perception, his -marvellous intellect, and his commanding and noble appearance. Of medium height, liis rather spare figure and noble hearing made him appear much taller.than he really was. His face was like alabaster, inteflectually lighted, his deep set eyes seeming to search one through and through. In his presence one felt as if the innermost thoughts were being read without an effort, and yet there was a mildness m the i eye and a softness m the fine face and features that at , the same time marked his unselfish and his humanitarian .instincts. In his presence there was a feeling as of being m the company of a giant mind, of a great; and good man. - On liis Lordship's first visit, the X'ope, knowing that lie had just cume from Ireland, at onceplunged into Irish politics, and the condition of that country, showing quite as much acquaintance with the conditions, of affairs as if he had been a resident, and personally was acquainted with the land and the people. Again, when he visited Rome after being m. New Zealandj his Holiness displayed a marvellous knowledge of our colony, discussing th 6 problems and conditions as if he had made them a lifetime study. His memory was of an extraordinary kind, and of this one instance- will suffice. It was five years since Bishop Grimes last visited his Holiness, yet last year, when a Christchurch gentleman had an audience, the Pope inquired after his (the Bishop'sjj health, remarking that he hoped lie was m better health than he appeared to hewhen he last saw him, and recalling several incidents of that visit. When it is, remembered that thousands are constantly visiting him, the occurrence is certainly remarkable. The interest m thesocial problems of the day was a feature) of liis life. ' In reply to a remark by his interviewer that the Pope was a socialist of the Jiigher order, Bishop Grimes, replied: "Well, if we could apply-the term, I should say he was a true Christian socialist and a reformer. No Pope*in modern, times," continued the Bishop, "has beera so admired by all classes as he strove to» solve the labor problem and suggested^ the true remedy of morality and reugiom. His vitality is wonderful, and this facte King Edward made mention of the other day.' Some time ago a bishop expressed the hope that his Holiness might live to be 100 years of age, \ To this the Pope jocularly replied^ "If to a hundred, why not to a hundred a&d twenty?" Where a principle was involved, the Pope was firmness itself, conceding to no one, but was ever a peacemaker where peace could be obtained without much sacrifice. When the last Pope died it devolved upon the present Pope, according to the usages of the Church, to strike the foreheaa of the dead man three times with a silver mallet and declare the Pope dead. , It was very seldom, indeed that; the immes diate successor performed this duty.