THE POPE AND HIS VALET.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 14, 6 April 1899, Page 15

THE POPE AND HIS VALET.

The Rome correspondent of the Pall Mall Ga:ct(t writes .—That wonderful old man, Leo XIII., has really made another recovery. It was quite recently that, turning to his personal attendant, he eaid, with a sweet smile : ' Well, Pio, I wonder what tbey will say now, those clever persons who have killed and buried me so otten in the last twenty years.' Cay Pio Centro, the private servant of Leo XIII., hails trom Carpineto, the birthplace of his master. He is more even than a faithful and privileged servant ;heis a constant companion, lhis intimate connection with his Holiness dates back even before the ascension of Leo XIII. to the Papal throne. Pio invariably sleeps in a small chamber next the bedroom of the Pope, and there is between the two so thin a partition that he ran hear the Pontift s breathing. At all times he is able to keep surveillance by the aid of a little glass window, which is at the head of his bed With the telephone he is put in constant communication with the Pope s doctor Professor Lapponi, who lives out of the Vatican. Besides this eminent physician there are two assistant doctors, who live in the palace, and have the care of the health of five hundred souls who comprise the population of the Vatican. In the days of Pius IX. there were many more who made their abode there.

Even now that the Pontiff is so old, and far from feeling robust, he insists on early rising. About six o'clock Cay Pio Centro knocks at his door, enters, opens the shutters, and retires immediately, aa his Holiness has never liked assistance in his ordinary dressing, but lately he has had to give way somewhat, and his valet returns to buckle his shoes and tie the white sash he wears with his white At night very little military watch is maintained. There ia only a Swiss guard at the door of the Papal apartments ; the gendarmes in the courtyard of San Damaso, at the foot of the staircase leading to Leo XIII.'s quarters ; a detachment of firemen and a Swiss guard at the famous bronze door. The watch is, perhaps, more strictly maintained outside by the Italian police all along the Vatican walls. By an arrangement between the police and the Papal authorities, a window next the papal apartments is kept open during the day, and closed at night, but with a lighted lamp behind it. The shutting of the window in the day or putting out of the light at night means that something unusual has happened, and that help is needed. In case of the illness of the Pope this singular sign would mean that he is dead. An Italian sentinel is continually watchmg the window. However, this did not prevent the mistake of General Delia Rocca, Uunder-Secretary of State at the Home Office in the Crispi Cabinet in 1878, who announced in the House the death of Pius IX. five hours before it took place.