Pope Pius XI

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 41, 19 October 1922, Page 23

Pope Pius XI

GRAPHIC TEN-PICTURE BY ARCHBISHOP DUHIG. His Grace the Archbishop of Brisbane (Most Rev. Dr. Duhig), who was in Rome for the Eucharistic Congress, had several opportunities of seeing and hearing the new Pope, Pius XI. He sends us (says the Catholic Press) the following graphic description of his private audience with the Pope. Archbishop Duhig had the honor of being the first Australian Bishop to be received in private audience by the Holy Father, so that his Holiness obtained hrs first knowledge of the conditions of the faith in Australia

from one who knows the Commonwealth so well from ocean to ocean. To no part of Australia is Archbishop Duhig a stranger, and his business in more than one of the States has been important and prolonged. “Pius X 1.,” writes his Grace, “is a Pope of profound learning with the tender heart of a father, and the simple manners of a child.” Much has been already written about Pius XI., and, great as have been the eulogies passed on him, there has not been in them a word of exaggeration or flattery. Achille Patti, whose name stands last on the list of Cardinal-Priests proclaimed by his great predecessor, Benedict XY., is perhaps the most universally accepted and popular Pope ■ that has ascended the Chair of Peter since the days of Pio Nono. To begin with, the election of one comparatively unknown, and who had worn the purple only for six short months, was extraordinary. More extraordinary still was the spontaneous outburst of popular enthusiasm with which his election was greeted by the waiting crowds in the Piazza of St. Peter’s. When, after the announce- . • ment of the election by Cardinal Bisleti, a Pope, for the first time since 1870, gave his blessing from the open balcony of the great church, and the huge concourse of people fell on their knees on the wet pavement with tears of joy in their eyes, the scene as indescribably impressive. Three times the new Pontiff blessed them, his remarkable voice being heard in every part of the great Piazza; the Pontifical Guards saluted, and the thousands of Italian troops lined up in front of the Basilica, at the command of their officers, presented, arms. For more than 50 years no Pope had ever before been saluted by an Italian soldier. Pius XI. passed in. The crowd remained spellbound for a moment, then, recovering itself from the profound silence that reigned while the Pontiff blessed it, it broke into a chorus of “evivvas” that vibrated throughout . Rome, and that was soon taken up by the whole Catholic world. Pius XI. had won the hearts of his countrymen. He would soon win the hearts of Christendom. A Strange Incident. It is said that when those three gifted ecclesiastics, Ratti, Tacci, and Laurenti, were receiving from the hands of the late Pontiff the insignia of the Cardinalitial dignity in June of last year, Benedict XV. propheticallyremarked that one of the three would be his successor. The outside world has never penetrated the secrets of the Conclave; but there is a feeling in Rome that the several scrutinies held in February last were concerned precisely with the three names mentioned. An incident well worth relating here came to my knowledge during my recent visit to the Eternal City. I was at one of the foremost schools of Rome —an institution where many of the daughters of the aristocarcy are educated. During my visit the Sisters presented to me a child who had obtained notoriety among her companions by reason of the fact that when the pupils -were, in their own innocent way, carrying on a “conclave” simul-

taneously with that being held at the Vatican, this child, ; who, when entering the “conclave” had been given the name of Cardinal Ratti, was one evening, after several scrutinies, elected, and when asked what name she wished to take she replied, “Pius XI.” Next morning Cardinal Ratti was elected at the Vatican, and he took the name Pius XI. I gave the child a medal of the Pontiff, and told . her she should not fail to have the interesting coincidence related to his Holiness when her school would be fortunate enough to have an audience with him. ' « ■ First Impressions. My first impressions of Pius XI. were obtained on my seeing him when, two days after my arrival in Rome, he opened the great International Eucharistic Congress the first to he held since the series of these wonderful gatherings in honor of the Most Holy Eucharist was interrupted by the Great Wax* —I was on© of 150 bishops who, seated on a great platform in the Belvedere Courtyard at the Vatican on the afternoon of May 24 (Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians), awaited the arrival of his Holiness. In front of us were the seats of the Ambassadors accredited to the Vatican by the various countries of the world, while in the very front circle were the crimson chairs of the Cardinals, which filled one by one as figures of world-wide —Gasparri, Merry del Val, Tacci, Vannutellij and others —came in. Below us in the courtyard was a sea of 10,000 eager faces. There is a little waiting, during which we observe the graceful movements of the Guards, the Monsignori, and the members of the Pontifical household, who are preparing for the Pontiff’s entrance. Finally, /the appearance of the Noble Guards, and the sounding of the silver trumpets, tell us* the Holy Father is about.to enter. Immediately all rise, and, with uncovered heads, prepare to receive him. A tremendous “evivva” greets the Pontiff’s appearance; then the vast concourse kneel for his blessing. With charming grace of manner Pius XI. salutes his Cardinals, and, in response to the “evivvas” from the concourse of people below, representing almost every nation on earth, he bows and waves his hand in salutation. The forest of handkerchiefs is still waving as the Pontiff takes his seat on the throne prepared for him. Seated there, surrounded by the members of the Pontifical Court (the oldest and most renowned on earth), Pius XI. appears the very embodiment of sublime, yet simple, : dignity. Seeing him for the first time one could perceive ' at a glance how tersely the Romans had hit off his character, Motto Simpatico. Very sympathetic were the terms I had heard so often used to describe,-him, and now, as he smiled down on the 10,000 of his spiritual children come there to greet him, I realised the truth of the description, Motto Simpatico. I was surprised at the youthful appearance and easy movement of the Pontiff, who was just about to celebrate his 65th birthday. His ; hair was jet black, and his countenance that of a man of 50. Evidently the Alpine climbing had prevented his growing old. Pius XI. in Action. I knew: that his Holiness was going to speak that afternoon, and that I would, as it were, see Pius XI. in action.. My expectations were high, and they were " not disappointed. The octogenarian, Cardinal Vincenzo Vannutelli, Dean of the Sacred College, opened the proceedings with a most appropriate address. A massed choir sang hymns in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. Then / the Pontiff rose, and for over 20 minutes he spoke, in- • v fervid and eloquent words that vibrated to all parts .of the .great courtyard, of the need the world has of Christ, the King of Peace. In those eloquent, touching words , of his he convicted political leaders of absolute failure to bring peace to the nations, because they sought peace 'through arms and diplomacy, and not through the Re- / deemer of the world. - There was something grand and , sublime in the noble voice of the Pontiff as he appealed /.-to his own spiritual children to love Christ, blessed the inauguration of the great Congress, and welcomed to ■fv". Eternal Rome the children of all nations who had come . : hither to honor their Sacramental. Lord. It is said that at his election a kind of seraphic fire lit no the counten- - r ance of Pius XI as he told the Cardinal Dean what name die.wished to take. I, felt some of that seraphic fire as V - I listened to him that afternoon at the Vatican. Twice 7. subsequently I. heard him. speak. He was* appealing for > help for /the Propagation of the Faith through the ministry of priests sent out by the Propaganda College. . The unction and power of thps® tppeals, coming straight

from his apostolic heart, made on me a lasting impression.. Pius XI. in Private Audience. Friday, June 2, at 10.45 a.m., was fixed for my private audience with the Holy Father. It would be ' difficult to describe my feelings as I waited my turn in one of the antechambers. I as the first Australian Bishop to have the privilege of being received by the new Pope, and I felt how inadequately I represented that great young Australian Church, so full of life, of courage, and of hope. I was carrying in my bands some little gifts sent to the new Pontiff by our own good nuns and children of our schools. While I was waiting, those gifts were much admired by a young Chamberlaina noble Pole of commanding appearance and exquisite manners. He told mo that he had been associated with the Holy Father in _ Poland, and that as he knew his feelings he felt sure he would be delighted to receive a gift from the children of far-off Australia. A Cardinal passes out from the Pope’s apartments. It is Cardinal. Giorgi, the Grand Penitentiary. Then Monsignor Migone comes and. invites me to follow him. “What language will you speak?’’ he asks. “Well,” I reply, “I speak a little Italian, so if the Holy Father desires we can converse in it.” “Very well,” he says. The door opens, and I am in the presenceof the Vicar of Christ. My genuflections over, the Holy Father rises to receive me with outstretched arms. “Ah, Monsignor,” he says, “you come, like the Magi of old, carrying gifts.” “The gifts are small, Holy Father,” I reply; “but your far-off'spiritual children who sent them only wished they could come themselves.” - With deep interest his Holiness examines the little presents, and views the photographic groups of our institutions and our beautiful Queensland children. Then, seating himself at his table, he turns to me and says: “Monsignor, you have brought us great joy to-day, for the children are very dear to our heart. Tell your excellent priests, your religious teachers, the members of your sodalities, and ’ the children of your schools how grateful we are to them, and how lovingly we bless them. When you return to Queensland you will bless them all in our name.” The Pope then called Monsignor Migone to bring him a number of medals, which he kindly presented to me for distribution. With great calmness the Pontiff turned to speak of Australia. Its progress spiritually and materially surprised him quite as much as did the small population behind all that progress. I told his Holiness how deeply interested the press of Australia was in his election, and how widely and sympathetically it wrote, both of 'the late Pontiff, Benedict XV., .and of himself. “I have heard so already,” said he; “and I should like to let the people of Australia know how grateful I am for their good wishes, as expressed through the press and how heartily I pray that peace, prosperity, and happiness may continue to mark the progress of -their great, young country.” Pius XI. spoke with great emotion, especially when he referred to the straving children, for whose relief I had brought our contribution. “We need everything for the poor,” he said; “they have suffered terribly.” The expression, Motto Simpatico, came back to me as the heart of the great Pontiff melted into tenderness for the poor of Christ, and as before our own'eyes he put aside for them the Peter’s Pence brought for his own use. While he spoke I had ample opportunity to view his features, and note the change of expression that came over them as ho talked of things dear to his heartthe youth, the schools, the poor, the propagation of the faith —three months previously I had read for the first time of Achille Rattiardent Alpinist, scholar, librarian, and linguist; now I was face to face’ with Pius XI. The Bishop of a city had become the Shepherd of Christendom; the lover of hooks and mountains had become the father and friend of the poor of all nations. When my own audience was over I had the pleasure of introducing to the Pontiff my _ own Vicar-General, Monsignor James Byrne, and the Rev. Father Simington, of Townsville, with some lay friends. His Holiness received them most kindly, and commissioned Monsignor Byrne to impart, the Apostolic Benediction to his flock at Ipswich. r It will interest Australians to learn that the - real . discoverer of Cardinal Ratti was our late Apostolic Delegate, Monsignor Cerretti.’ When the Holy See was looking around for an Apostolic Nuncio for Poland, and the . Cardinals of the Curia met to recommend a prelate for ■ that high post, it is said that Monsignor : Cerretti/‘ cog- - nisant of the; great ■ gifts of., the Vatican Lihrarian—Monsigao? Ratti—did not hesitate to recommend him to their

Eminences, and, through them, to Benedict "XV. When the humble Librarian was summoned to the presence of the Pontiff, and told %f his appointment, he protested his unfitness for so important and delicate a post. Benedict XV. merely asked: “When will you be ready to set out?”. Monsignor Ratti obeyed, and very soon exhibited in diplomatic affairs a discernment equal to that which had marked his career as a successful director of the richest' library in the world. The nations now eagerly await the new Pontiff’s first Encyclical Letter, which, I feel sure, will be the fore-runner of many great and wise pronouncements from his pen.