Scholar and Diplomat

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 514, 17 November 1928, Page 9

Scholar and Diplomat

Cardinal Cerretti’s Career

Return Visit to Auckland

THOSE who believe That only elderly dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church receive the red hat from the Pope will be surprised to learn that his Eminence Cardinal Bonaventure Cerretti, who will arrive in Auckland on Monday, is only 54 years of age. After a stay of two months in Australia he is travelling to Rome, via America, as a passenger on the Aorangi, which left Sydney yesterday.

Tho Cardinal was born at Orvieto, Italy, and, after a distinguished career at th§ Vatican Seminary, he achieved the double doctorate in Canon Law and in Divinity at the Apollinare University in Home, where Bishop Cleary was a distinguished student. Cardinal Cerretti is also a Doctor of Literature of the Sapienza University at Rome. He speaks English, French, Spanish and German fluently, and he is well versed in the literature of the languages. DIPLOMATIC CAREER His many accomplishments after his ordination in 1895 marked him out for a diplomatic career. After three years in the office of Foreign Affairs at the Vatican, he was appointed to the Papal Nunciature at Buenos Ayres, after which he was two years in Mexico as first secretary to the Apostolic Delegate to that country. From 1906 to 1914. he was a member of the Papal Delegation at Washington. At the end of 1914 he was appointed the first Apostolic Delegate to Aus-

POPE OVERJOYED

tralia and New Zealand, * and was consecrated titular Archbishop of Corinth. His happy disposition, his unfailing interest in the people of these countries, and his charming manner endeared him to everyone whom he met during his three years in these countries. His visit to New Zealand in 1915 was the occasion of a great welcome from the Catholic people. That he has not forgotten the Dominion and its people, and that its many attractions have remained indelibly stamped on his memory, was evidenced by the comprehensive message to the people of New Zealand that he released on the day of his arrival in Sydney. In 1913 he was recalled to Rome. He sent two cables asking that he might stay in Australia, but he was wanted elsewhere, and had to obey. He was appointed Secretary of the Congregation of Extraordinary Foreign Affairs, a post that he held during the difficult years at the end of the war. He was later appointed Secretary of State in his department, because of the brilliant manner Jn which he had administered his office. One of his appointments was the sending of Monsignor Ratti to Warsaw as Papal Nuncio to Poland during the reconstruction period. In two years’ time Monsignor Ratti was appointed Cardinal and six months later was elected Pope us Pius XL Cardinal Cerretti presided over the recent international Eucharistic Con - gress at Sydney as that Pope’s personal Legate and representative. ACHIEVEMENT IN FRANCE

Further diplomatic achievements awaited Archbishop Cerretti in what was at once the most important as well as the most difficult field of diplomacy. The French Government had been forced by the pressure of public opinion to renew diplomatic relations with the Vatican, and the reconstruction period found the time opportune to send a French representative to the Papal Court, and to receive the Pope’s Nuncio in Paris after years of unfriendliness on the part of the anticlerical group which controlled the French nation.

To this important and difficult position Archbishop Cerretti was appointed. He found the Chamber of Deputies favourable to him, but the Senate was cold, suspicious and unwilling to be friendly to a “clerical” ambassador. But the winning charm and the tact of the" new Nuncio soon won him the close personal friendship of M. Poincare, M. Miller, and M. Briand, and many other former anti-clericals who recognised, his sincerity of purpose and his many gifts. On his retirement from a post which was the most important and the most delicate in the diplomatic service of the Vatican, the French Government conferred on him the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, and he left Paris in 1926 with the affectionate regard and respect of the government and people of France. His future duties were to keep him in Rome in the Cabinet of the Pope. Since he received the red hat he has done notable service at the Vatican and he ranks as one of the most important men in the Roman Catholic Church. VISIT TO AUSTRALIA When Cardinal Cerretti was appointed early this year to represent the Pope at the 29th International Eucharistic Congress at Sydney, it is difficult to say whether he or the Catholics of Australia were the more pleased. He has been received with honour by all shades of religious and political opinion. The Governor-Gen-eral entertained him and journeyed to Sydney to welcome him, all the State Premiers officially received him and publicly entertained him, and the Commonwealth Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. S M. Bruce) publicly testified to the delight of the people of Australia generally at having his Eminence among them. Everywhere he was the honoured guest of the States and the Premiers 1 private railway carriages were placed at his disposal. The Cardinal spoke at many functions in Australia during his recent visit, and he ever had an apt word and a humorous reference to local conditions or events with which his three years’ previous residence had made him familiar. He was obviously delighted with the progress that he witnessed, and people of all shades of religious belief were charmed to entertain him and to seek his company. The Cardinal speaks English fluently and well. His intonation rarely differs from the usual, and the raising of his voice towards the end of his sentences alone indicates his foreign birth. He delighted in being hailed as an Australian, and it was obvious in all his utterances that the Commonwealth and the Dominion are very dear to his heart.

Although most of the members of his suite have been compelled to return to their pressing duties in Rome, Cardinal Cerretti would not retrace his steps homewards without calling in at Auckland to renew his friendship with New Zealanders and to visit his old friend Bishop Cleary, who was prevented by the results of his motor accident from being present at the Eucharistic Congress.

SUCCESS OF CONGRESS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10.20 a.m. ROME, Friday. The Pope gave an audience to Monsignor Caccia Deminione, his chamberlain, who has just returned from Australia. The monsignor glowingly described the stirring and impressive scenes in connection with the Eucharistic Congress at Sydney. He had never seen a more beautiful ecclesiastical pageant than Cardinal Cerratti led to St. Mary's Cathedral, which is the religious and artistic glory of Australia. Half a million people crammed into Hyde Park and adjacent streets. It was an extraordinary spectacle of piety and zeal. Kneeling women wept with emotion. Catholic and Protestant alike. They felt that they owned one God, and prostrated themselves in allegiance to Him. The Pope expressed deepest satisfaction, and said his beloved Australian children had given him one of the greatest joys of the year.