HAPPILY FALSE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 41, 9 February 1894, Page 16

HAPPILY FALSE.

j^diei? CABLEGRAM acquaints us with the fact that flr^fli^ history is once more repeating itself with regard P«3B|m£ to rumours of the approaching death of the Pope. Jll^K^ What the precise occasion is we cannot tell. It CgjSafe does not seem to be any scarcity of topics on ;Khk which to descant. Indeed, just at present, in yf'< ■ that respect there is possibly the embarras des richesses. Europe affords abundant matter, not only for sensational writing, but for profound thought end consideration. We are told, nevertheless, that the Pope is creating <f ßix Italian cardinals with a view to electing a successor," — and this, of course, implies that the Pope is near his end. What it is otherwise meant to imply we need not stay to question. The possibilities are infinite — but, as among them all, they hardly include the truth, it would be a waste of time to pursue them. What, meantime, we are happy to say is that the Pope, according to an authentic account recently published, is in excellent health, and is judged likely to Borvive, in the complete enjoyment of his intellectual faculties) for a long time still to come. We allude to an account of an audience accorded to him by his Holiness, which has been given to an interviewer by the well-known American publicist, Mr Chauncey Depew. "It has been said that he was weak," said Mr Depew, " and that bis hands trembled constantly as with palsy. That is not true. There is about the Pope a certain nervous intensity, which might be casually mistaken f«r feebleness in his movements. Bat to me it indicated

rather strength and vigour of mind as well as of body." Again, in reference to his informing his Holiness that he had lectured some two years ago on the Encyclical on the Labour question, Mr Dbpbw spoke as follows :— " When the Encyclical was mentioned he straightened up with all the rigour of a man of fifty, his eyes flashed, he grasped the arms of his chair and leaned forward as though intensely interested. Then for five minutes he poured forth a clear, succinct, earnest and eloquent statement of the position of the Church upon that question." — Finally, said Mr Dkpew, " It was a great surprise to me, especially in view of all I had heard as to the extreme weakness of his Holiness, to find him so vigorous in both mind and body as he was on this occasion." There is, therefore, reason for us to conclude that, whatever may be the occasion for the rumour to which we have alluded, it is not based on truth. But of the vigour of his intellect, and, indeed, also of his physical strength, for so great a labour could not be performed by one suffering from physical infirmities, the Pope has recently given a proof to the world at large. He has issued an Encyclical on the study of Holy Scripture that gives manifest indications of exceptional powers. And what splendid testimony otherwise, also, is this so issued to the world. How it rebukes doubt and puts to shame the weakness of the branches cut off; and how it proves that with Borne, and with Rome only, the confidence and the courage of the truth abide. The Pope commands the study of the Scriptures, that their truth may be upheld »nd proclaimed. He offers no compromise to error — no admissions to what they call the " Higher Criticism." He names this only to condemn it, to declare it false, and to command that it should be met and overthrown by the power of learning. The Pope is not afraid to confront the new wisdom of the world. He calls for the letting in on Holy Writ of all the light of science, and fearlessly maintains that the Word of God can stand the test. The issue of this Encyclical, in a word, has not been the least glorious of the many glorious deeds that have distinguished the present pontificate. We rejoice, therefore, to believe that, whatever may be their grounds, the rumours of any particular failure of Strength on the part of the Holy Father are ill founded. The rumours alluded to maybe the outcome of mere idleness. That they have a more sinister origin seems poisible from the fact that, as we have said, there is at present an abundance of topics of public interest to occupy the European Press, and journalists are not dr.ven to rack their brains for matter of news or comment. What concerns m is the reason we have happily to conclude that, however they have originated, they are unfounded. Long may it be before the contrary becomes the case.