THE RED POPE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13429, 21 March 1907, Page 6

THE RED POPE.

Cardinal Gotti, who has. just celebrated the golden juoilee of his ordination as a prieat, is known tlirou ghoul the world as tK6 "Red Pope:" That is the name given to the head, of Propaganda Fide, which controls 411 Catholic missions (under which, Iqj the, way, the f ßoman Catholic ChurcH in England is technically included). His office is the second - most important in the' Roman hierarchy. The Cardinal himself (says the Morning Leader) is a man of sweet and most simple nature, quite unassuming in manner and? of 'faintly life. His beautiful, serene face- is a, clear indication of has nature> He is a Carmelite, and has never swerved from the resll humility of his rule. Yet 'his career might have turned many a strong man's head. His scholarship is wide and varied, his knowledg^or canon .law is encyclopaedic, a,nd he has acquired a reputation as an 'orator, conversing with equal ease in Latin, French,- and Italian. ,Hi§ great abilities land, keen business habits did not escape Leo XIII. 's acute eye, and on the doath. ofc Cardinal Ledohcowski Cardinal Gotti was unhesitatingly chosen to succeed him at Propaganda Fide — only seven years after he had been admitted to the Sacred College. As a sidelight on Cardinal Gotti's character, one may recall that he is something of a naval expert, as indeed becomes il&tiye of Genoa. When a young ecclesiastic he taught the nautical sciences, .in the Preparatory Naval College, and some of the most distinguished , Italian admirals were among his pujiils. He is also a brilliant mathematician.