CARDINAL CERRETTI

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 87, 22 November 1928, Page 3

CARDINAL CERRETTI

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRELATE. PASSING THROUGH AITKLAM). MEMORIES OP NEW ZEALAND. In the brilliant! red robes c-f his office, and attended by Bishop Cleary, attired in ferruiola robes of purple, Cardinal Bonaventure Cerretti came ashore from the Aorangi at Prince’s wharf, says the Star, and •was greeted by a large gathering of members of the Roman Catholic Church. In returning to 'Rome byway of New Zealand, after acting as Papal Legate to the recent Eucharistic Congress in Sydney, the ■cardinal has been influenced by his happy memories of his visit to this Dominion in 1916, when he was Apostolic Delegate to Australia and New Zealand. “If yon use all the superlatives at your command yen will not be able to express my sentiments concerning Australia, and neither will you be able to tell the people of this beautiful country how pleased I am t'o return to New Zealand.” In excellent English, though with the occasional feeling after a word such as might he expected of an Italian, Cardinal Cerretti spoke thus in file course of an interview which he gave in his cabin while the Aiorangi was comjlng tjo her berth. Strong vitality, mental alertness and radiant personality are impressions which 'one gathers from contact with the visiting cardinal. He is a man who, uyider any circumstances of life, would command attention, and one can understand, the success which he has achieved in his brilliant' diplomatic career—among the friendly people of Aus-

tralia, in the exotic environment of South America, in the gay atmosphere of Paris, and among the devout people of rural France. One can also understand the bestowal of membership of the Legion of Honour and other honours which have come to him. There is not the slightest doubt that at’ the recent Eucharistic Congress in Sydney the Pope was very ably represented. HERE TWELVE YEARS AGO. , With the memories cf his former visit in mind, Cardinal Gerratti was sparkling with appreciation of New Zealand. “I have the most pleasant recollections of ray visit twelve years ago,” he said, “when through the kindness of Bishop Cleary I was able to se e so much pf the marvellous beauty of this country. I remember particularly what I saw of the life of the Ma'Crjs and what I experienced of their friendliness.”

His Eminence went' on to speak; of boiling pools and geysers and cf a glorious holiday of a fortnight Which he had spent with Bishop . i Cleary and others at Lake Taupo. 1 On that occasion he caught mere than enough fish for the require- ■ mentis of himself and the members of his party. He also visited : where h e had the pleasure fc>f consecrating Blishop Brodie, formerly of Auckland. “Yes, he added, “i remember that it was a beautiful ceremony.” That the visitor has also a good me,i; |)ry for names was indicated by his references to Sir George Clifford and other citizens whom he met in the course of that visit 1 . He recalls with special .pleasure the courtesy which was extended to him in Auckland hy the late Sir Arthur Myers. “As soon as he saw the crest on my motor car,” said the cardinal, “Sir Arthur came forward and remarked that, although he was a member of the Jewish faith and I of the Catholic faith, he was very pleased to: greet me as a visitor to New Zealand. What I remember most, and with deep feelings of gratitude, is the kindly reception which I received from all sections of the community and from the civic authorities in each of your cities.” IMPRESSED BY CONGRESS. As for the Eucharistic Congress, Cardinal Cerretti said, that was far more wonderful than he had expected to see. “There may have heel a few more thousand people at flu Chicago Congress,” he remarkje,4

“but there was not so impressive a demonstration of enthusiasm and fervour as there was in Sydney. I had not expected to see such a demonstration, and I do not expect to see another like it in any part of the world. The way in which the peoite, as a whole, Catholic ‘/and non-Catholic, entered into the spirit of the celebration .was marvellous to behold. I also appreciated 'the sympathetic) interest which was shown by the Premier of New South Wales (Mr Bavin) and other leading pubic men.” The Cardinal said, he could never forget the great l gatherings which contained as many as three-quarters of a million people at Hyd e Panic and at St. Mary’s Cathedral. He was particularly impressed with the scene on the men’s night. “At a given signal,” he said, “all lights went out and each man was left with a lighted taper. The effect . was wonderful. It was a scene such as one mght only expect to see in the catacombs of Rome.” The Cardinal appreciated, greatly meeting the Maori delegation to th e congress, and receiving from them the tiki which he is carrying back to the Pope. .