THE POPE'S RECEPTION OF THE IRISH BISHOPS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2083, 1 September 1885, Page 2

THE POPE'S RECEPTION OF THE IRISH BISHOPS.

On May 24th the Popo .received tho Irish biahops collectively ;m. his private library. No one else wa? present. , Thejk address having been read by Croke, the Pope may be said to have pert forced the' .ceremony of closing the bishops' mouths. He commenced his discourse \by telljng them that this must be .'considered as a strictly private familiar meeting, unci t)iafc nothing that pasaet} wa§ tq bo Mfido pub Ho. This is . all which is known, or can bo known, for the present; but inasmuch as the audience lasted close upon two hours, and the Pope.spoko with great oxplicitness during tho greater part pf that time, it may well be. inferred,. wjfch sufficient certainty, that he did not expend so much tjnie and labor on mere compli? ments. Tl|e fact that both the address and. the Pope's reply are to remain secret is very-significant as to the Contents of both, and sufficiently judicative pf % f ope having- oijt tjie intentions lie expressed to a tiiaAmialiwl lonian prelate recently of speaking .plainly arid strongly to the bishops, and especially regarding their animosity towards England. At the end of hi? discourse the Pope blessed the bishops, their clipceses, parishes, and congregatiowi, After tho audience tha bishops waiteiljl according to their custom, upon the' Cardinal Secretary at the Irish College, where speeches (says the Home News) were made and toasts proposod, which were loudly cheered by tho Irish students gathered at the end ofthe room. •'