ROME LETTER

New Zealand Tablet, 21 January 1915, Page 49

ROME LETTER

(From our own correspondent.)

November 24.

BENEDICT XV. IN' HIS SIXTIETH JYEAR.

Each of us can picture the feelings with which the people of Rome thronged St. Peter’s on Sunday evening to attend the reception which Benedict XV. was to give them on his sixtieth birthday. It was the first time many of them saw the . new Pontiff, as he stood on the altar built over the tomb of St. Peter, and blessed the vast multitude that gazed at him on every side. Let us see with the 60,000 or 70,000 Romans what the successor' of Pius X. is like in person. Below the middle height, thin and frail looking, lithe, firm in step, quick as a flash, with luminous black eyes that pierce you through glasses, Benedict XV. makes at once a commanding and an engaging figure. From the portrait given us of St. Francis of Assisi, by one of those who knew him in the flesh, 1 cannot be'lp thinking the present Pope closely resembles the grand Patriarch of Umbria, his countryman. Both shared that charm of manner and resolute character that marked them out. as leaders of men. And though Benedict XV. is not called to practise those terrible austerities which signalised the life of the Assisi an Seraph, still his tendency runs in this line". His Holiness is the first on foot in the Vatican each morning, a fact worthy of note in a household of over a thousand persons. lie works harder than when Archbishop of Bologna or lieutenant to Cardinal Ramuolla. But the Holy Father seems to thrive upon labor; his health is excellent and his voice clear and ringing.

But why has the art of photography failed to catch the expression of Pope Benedict Bishop Phelan, of Australia, says it is because the Pope’s glance is so quick and restless that tho photographer docs not succeed in getting the striking impression which his countenance gives. Whatever is the reason, few photos have yet conveyed an idea of the brilliantly expressive face of the Holy Father.- Curiously enough, the same may be said in the case of Pius X.

THE POPE AND THE HEADS OF NATIONS.

In the congratulatory messages sent the Pope on his sixtieth birthday by the rulers of Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Spain, Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, Turkey, Montenegro, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Abyssinia, Benedict XV. was thanked by some for his recent Encyclical on Peace. Naturally, several rulers made no mention of it ; it might, they fancy, seem like showing the white feather! But if they keep silent on peace, he is more careful than ever that no word of his can bo construed into any deviation from the most pronounced neutrality. As a sovereign it was the Pontiff’s duty to send a wire to the King of Belgium this week on the occasion of some family feast. But the message was couched in such a form that the most jealous antagonist could not possibly take umbrage at it. bo rigidly careful in this respect is the Holy Sec, that even yet the Vatican organ continues to warn its readers each clay that it merely publishes the wires sent it by the Agenzia Stefani on the progress of the European war for what they are worth.

THE CENTENARY OF DANTE.

Although it is like painting the lily to emphasise the fact that the nations of the earth have no greater patron of science and art than is tho Holy Father, still one cannot help quoting from the letter recently sent by Benedict XV. to the Archbishop of Ravenna on the celebration of the sixth centenary of Dante’s death. Ravenna would never give up Dante’s body to his native F.orence despite protest and entreaty. And in Ravenna accordingly the celebrations are to be held. While the. Church, says Benedict XV., has ever been the patron of the Fine Arts and of Letters, she has

also always - honored men of renown in these branches. .‘ Among these,' continued his Holiness, I is undoubtedly Dante Alighieri, to ' whom, since the days of Homer, we do not know if any poet, can be compared.. But there is another and a more important reason on account of which we hold -it our duty to celebrate his centenary with gratitude and the greatest solemnity, viz., Dante was one of us. In fact the Florentine poet, as all are aware, joined the study of nature to the study" of religion, and he conformed his mind to principles animated by profound Catholic faith.’ And yet great was the indignation, of the Socialists of Italy on learning a year or two ago that- Pius X. intended Dante’s celebration should have a distinctly Catholic side to it. They would, forsooth, claim the great Catholic poet as one of themselves because of a few stinging remarks the Florentine exile made about a few ecclesiastics.

ITALY AND THE WAR.

As days go by, Italy continues to feel the effects of the war more and more. In Rome itself scarcely a foreigner walks the streets, and Rome, be it remembered, absolutely lives on Hie tourist traffic, ’ As might be expected, hotels feel the pinch more keenly than others. And as a consequence the Society of the Hotel Proprietors of Italy have decided to adopt a loan system which will enable the more needy ones of their body to keep their doors open until the Angel of Peace returns to Europe.

Ecclesiastical Rome is almost normal : but it is sad that the French College sent one hundred of her students to the front. Many of these have been killed or wounded, and the fifty remaining Levites expect to be called to training for war any day. Their late confreres of the Teutonic colleges in Rome arc not so reduced in numbers.

NOTES.

Notification is being sent to the Carmelites of the world to the effect that the General Chapter of the Order, which should have been held in September, but which was postponed for three months owing to the war, will be held in Romo early in January. Italy will welcome one of these days a new magazine of culture and science founded by Rev. Father Gemelli, 0.F.M., aided by his friends Dr. Nccchi and Dr. Olggati, two of Italy’s greatest savants. As already stated here, Father Gemelli took out the degree of medical doctor before donning the habit of the Poor Man of Assisi.