The Pope's Sisters

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 46, 16 November 1905, Page 4

The Pope's Sisters

Cl the Pope's six sistei.s thiee are mairied (says ' The Gentlewoman '), and live 111 their native- province. The other three weie their illustrious brother's conslant companions, and two of them have lollowcd him trom the aiclnepiscopal palace ot \ enicc to the piazza ol St Peter's The house 111 which the Signorine Rosa and Maria Saito occupy a flat was formeily a palace of the Rusticucci family. The ground floor is occupied by shops A small side door is reserved for the use oi the Pope's sisteis, and opens on to a silent and .seemingly deseited stanca'-e. On reaching the thud (looi, a ring at the bell is instantly answered, and the visitor admitted without hesitation, fust to an i.nte-chamber paved with squares of black and white marble Along the walls are sofas upholstered in blue, and three small tables, on which lie large albums bound in parchment bearing the pontifical arms, stand about the room. A door admits to a simply furnished sitting-room. The furniture is covered with green tapestry and hangings of the same drape the windows and doors. After a few moments, one of the ..sisters enters with profuse apologies fc v the delay. Her Venetian accent is rather pleasing She appears to be a little past fifty, with kindly dark eyes in a benevolent face, expressive of the utmost simplicity and self-forget-fulness Her dress is of black woollen material, over which she wears a large apron , a pair of scissors hangs by a black ribbon from her belt. Her only ornament is a slender gold chain supporting a medal at her throat. The other sister immediately follows attired similarly in black, she appears somewhat younger, but the resemblance between the two is striking, and even more so their likeness to their august brother. Both their countenances arc most amiable, and intuitively one feels that their lives are spent in Works of Charity, in comforting the sorrowing and relieving 'the distressed. The ladies appear embarrassed at any marks of deference, but evidently do their best to conquer their shyness. They speak with much regret of Venice ; though admiring Rome greatly for its grandeur, they leturn longingly to the thought of the stillness, the mysterious peace of the lagunes. Besides, they seem to know little of Rome, beyond going for an occasional drive, but they shrink from recognition. 'We live like

two nuns,' remarked one of them. ' Except to go to Mass or to see the Holy Father, we seldom go out, and we see hardly anybody, but there is so piuch to do at home.' They keep no servant, two lay Sisters coming daily to attend to their modest requirements. The Pope's wish and theirs is that they should in no way alter their former simple mode of life. Suggestions were made that his Holiness should bestow on them Vatican titles, and that they should have a household and equipage suited to their new position. But these were calmly negatived. The only title he would give or they bear is that of the Pope's sisters. On the rare occasions when they drive, it is in an ordinary hired carriage, and their dress remains the same that they wore in their village home.