A POPE'S LOVE ROMANCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 227, 17 November 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

A POPE'S LOVE ROMANCE.

BRIDE FORSAKEN AT THE ALTAR.

The appointment of Count tfe S?.'.:s as British Minister to the Vatican in succession to Sir Henry Howard,' recalls to a writer in the 'Star' a love romance of a Pope. This Pontiff was rius IX., and the lady, Miss Foster daughter of Dr. Foster, Bishop of Kilmore, and sister of a Countess de Salis. third wife of the present Count's greatgrandfather, Jerome Count de Salis. Miss foster and her sister were nieces of John Poster,last Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, who was created Lord Oriel and is represented to-day by Lord Massereene an 3 Ferrari.

Pius IX. has gone down to posterity ns a liberal and enlightened occupant of the Papal throne, but few admirers here—admirers ol a great cleric win carried cut his own liberal views—are aware that but for a love affair, with which his fmily interfered nd deliberately upset, ho would never hare entered the Church.

A young Italian of good family. Count Giovanni Mastai-Ferretti, ns he was then, entered the Guardia Nobile, and naturally mixed in the most exclusive Italian society. Miss Foster, a lovely girl, went to Italy to stay with her sister. Countess de Salis, and there met the hand-some young Italian officer, Count Giovanni Mastai-Ferret-ti, the couple being mutually attracted. The Count —an honourable, chivalrous, generous, and disinterested man, as hi* whole life showed —proposed, was accepted, and the wedding-day fixed. But when the day arrivid' the Count was not at the church. The would-be bride waited for a long time, but he never arrived, and not for years afterwards did sh«. learn the reason, and know that he had after all been faithful.

The explanation was simple. The Count came of u Jesuit family who had estimated his value to the Church, and determined that it should possess him. Letters iwers intercepted, Mid persuaded that the beautiful Irish girl had ceased to love him, he took Orders, and was sent to the West Indies. His true worth soon told; he became a Bishop, an Archbishop, and Pope on tho death of Gregory XVI. He learnt (how it is not stated) of his family's deceit, and on the day he ascended the Papal throne he revealed the fact that he iwas the Count Mastai-Ferretti, who had failed to keep his wedding-mom engagement with Miss Foster.

Thus was the truth revealed to the woman who had loved him so well.