HOW THE NEW POPE LOOKS AND SPEAKS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 273, 26 July 1878, Page 19

HOW THE NEW POPE LOOKS AND SPEAKS.

The Rome correspondent of The Pilot, Mr. P. L. Connellan, gives the following graphic description of the Holy Father Pope Leo XIIL, as he appeared during the audience of the Irish College on the 2nd of May :—: — At a quarter to one, the door leading to the Pontifical apartments was opened, and shortly after eight Noble Guards, with high helmets, blue coats, and gold belts, and drawn swords, entered the Hall, and immediately following them came the Sovereign Pontiff in white soutane, and white silk colotte, or little skull-cap, accompanied by Mgr. Macchi, and another chamberlain who carried the Pontiff's wide-brimmed red hat and scarlet cloak. Ho immediately takes his place upon the throne. The assembled multitude kneel, and the Pontiff makes a sign for them to stand up. Naturally, every eye is bent upon him, and every, even the slightest, movement he makes which may indicate his manner, is observed with the keenest scrutiny. His pace was very rapid, as he walked from the door of the Hall to the Throne ; his step quick and short. He is thin, even to meagreness, and tall. The fingers of his hands are almost neshless, and the whole figure, and the whole outlines of the face, ascetic to a degree. He is, in appearance, not unlike what Cardinal Manning was a few years ago, when his activity was greater than it is to-day. As he sits listening to the lengthy address read to him by Cardinal- Cullen, his right hand, tremulous with nervousness, is employed in buttoning his soutane, and his fingers shake, and one might sayfumhlc, from very nervousness, around the buttons. As the address continues he looks from the Cardinal to the crowd assembled before him, and back again to the Cardinal, in a quick, nervous way. A few minutes of stillness succeeds, during which he grasps the arms of the Throne tightly with his nervous hands, as though to keep himself still. Then his knees begin to tremble as if. with a nervous force over which he has no control. A little child, fat and chubby, breaks in on the Cardinal's reading with what might bo regarded as a remonstrative cry, and the Pontiff turns to Mgr. Macchi and smiling addresses him, as if commenting on the interruption. The Cardinal has at length concluded ; Mgr. Kirby presents the gifts — & 1000 sterling, £800 being contributed from the Diocese of Lismore, through the Bishop, Dr. Conaty, and the remainder contributed here. The Pontiff rises suddenly to his feet, and — rare event — addresses a discourse to the Cardinal I His voice is very impressive, and what he says seems to be the immediate thoughts arising in his heart. You would say he was thinking aloud. His tone is somewhat nasal, but clear and ringing ; not robust and round, like that of Pius IX., but thrilling and penetrating, very like to Cardinal Manning's, except that it is stronger. His accent is not at all Roman ; and although lie was educated here, he has, from his long residence in Perugia, and much intercourse with the Perugians, acquired the accent of Perugia. His sentences are generally long, and you are forced to admire how happily he keei s the master-thought that runs through what he says, constantly in view. He speaks of the great pleasure, aud, indeed, of the emotion he feels at the testimony of the love of the sons of Ireland, as expressed by the Lord Cardinal of Dublin on behalf of thosepresent, for the Faith and for the Holy See. In well-chosen words, he conveys his deep sense of the love of Ireland to the Sovereign Pontiff. Eloquently does he refer to the piety of her children, whichgained for their noble land the title of " Island of Saints." Towards, the conclusion of his discourse he repeats again this honourable title, and finally bestows, in a most solemn and affectionate manner, his Apostolic Benediction on all present, and on their friends and relations. The people now gather closer around the Throne. The presentation of each one to His Holiness now begins, the ladies being, of course, presented first. The l.ttle chubby child who interrupted the address is brought before the Pontiff, at whom he stares with a halffrightened, half-wondering look in his large blue eyes. The Holy Father affectionately places his hands upon the child's head, and after blessing him in the most affectionate manner, the little fellow is carried away as surprised and dazed-looking as ever. Here is Father Mullooly of Saint Clement's just before me, and when the Pope hears his name he most kindly says : "We are most happy to see Father Mullooly, of St. Clement's, of whom we have heard so many praises and encomiums." Here it was that I was best enabled to see his countenance. A noble head, crowned with snow white hair, a high, wide forehead, not smooth and shining, but rough with bumps that would delight the heart of a phrenologist ; eyebrows bushy, and overhanging deep-set, kindly, and keenly intelligent eyes ; a large,

very large nose, thin and fine ; a wide mouth, which lends itself most readily to a very attractive smile, deep, straight lines bounding it, and a good, clear, pointed chin, with a well-defined, firm jaw, constitute the principal features that you become aware of in looking at the countenance, expressive in the highest degree, of Leo XIII. As you approach him, and kiss the embroidered cross upon his slipper, and the ring, almost slipping from his bony finger, a kindly interest lights up his eyes as he hears who you are, what your occupation is, and how long you have been in Rome. This last seems to be a particular question ; to-day he also made a specialty of asking each one were they Irish-born. Now it was that he seemed at his ease ; all signs of nervousness had disappeared. One cannot convey sufficiently well in words the kindness of his manner, nor the kindly interest that illumines his countenance, nor the affectionate way he clasps your hand in both of his, and the fatherly fashion in which he places his hands upon your head, nor the grace of his smile when he meets with a rounded face and stout figure so different from his own, nor the religious solemnity with which he invokes a benediction upon the kneeling multitude. All these must be seen to be fittingly felt. Unlike Pius IX. in person, he is no leas unlike him in many other respects. The former would, in his discourses, make use of a phrase, or employ a gesture, which would at once bring the tears to one's eyes ; the latter rather seems to appeal most affectionately and impressively to your reason. Pius IX. was an orator by nature, and was probably the most eloquent speaker of his day ; Leo XIII. is more of a writer and less of an orator ; appeals less to the emotions and more to the intellect. Pius IX. was distinguished for his thorough good-nature and genuine kind-heartedness ; Leo XIII. is remarkable for his kindly and courteous manner, his gracious speech, and the affectionate interest he takes in those with whom he comes in contact. The former had more than thirty years in which to gather the love and admiration of the world ; while the latter has not yet had three months for such a purpose, and yet he has won golden opinions from all men, and given the highest hopes to all Catholics throughout the ■world. Because one loved Pius IX. -with an undying lore, that very affection suggests the bestowal of a like love for Leo XIIL