CARDINAL ANTONELLI.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 721, 30 January 1877, Page 2

CARDINAL ANTONELLI.

Tee following, from the 'Globe* to tho scandal of the Holy Oatholio Church has been going the rounds of the press. The more truthful account will be found ia that given by the Catholic Beview, wliioa we also append :—"The Loudon * Globe * says : "The French and Belgian journals have recently calculated the almost incalculable wealth of Cardinal Antonelli, when he was reported to be dangerously invalided, and shortly before his decease. It was variously estimated at from ten td thirty five millions of francs, independently of his rare and priceless collection of works of art, ancient coins, ancient statuary, and other articles of vertu, worth not less than twenty millions. The Cardinal possessed one of the finest assortments of precious stones to be found in Europe, and he could boast of diamonds of all shapes, of the purest water, incomparable emeralds, pearls and torquoises, the richest laces, and the matchless marvels of the loom of the last period. Though the Cardinal was only a deacon, and so of inferior priestly rank, yet as a cardinal he was a prince of the Sovereign Pontiff's court. His offices were numerous, lie was Secretary of State to the Pope, President of the Council of \linisters, Prefect of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces, President of the Sacred U-mgrc* gation of Loretto, Chief of the Roman Cousulba, aud virtually Prime Minister of the Pope. He was the greatest pluralist in the JKoman Catholic Church, and with so many channels of wealth at his command, it was no wonder that he beoame by far the wealthiest of Roman Catholic ecclesiastics, if not the wealthiest of all Italians. He was certainly a singular successor of the Apostolic Ministry ot a church founded by one who declared ' how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.' "

(From the "Catholic Review.") The journals for the past few weeks have been carefully calculating the wealth of Cardinal Antonelli, and have got down very fine. Even his jewels are appraised with a closeuess that migbt do credit to a Chatham-street broker. Of course we have no fault to find with them for this. It is the privilege of the press, more especially of the American press, to pry into geutlemen's private business an.l to publish the result of their impertinent espionage for the delectation of tbeir readers. We think, however, that gentlemen who find their private affairs thus exposed, have a right to feel themselves in some measure aggrieved, and when it is insinuated that the wealth they possess

Ihas been uGCumulattd in a questionable manner, that they'have a to .consider themselves outraged. The millions of the late Mr Stewart were often a .gocUend to the penny a 'iner, and formed the theme of many an article. Mr Stew. -a.t, of course, did not care a snap what was said of him or his millions, but had -he t.eci me Secret .ry of the Treasury of the U.ited States, ns he might have be come if he quitted his business, and were his millions'then s.oken of as the result of his "scrapipgs" while in that office it would be an insinuation that lie had -stolen them from the country s coffers, and ihis is gust what is being insinuated in the ca>e of Cardinal Antonelli. Car- < -dinal Antonelli is of a rich family of Ten acina; whatever wealth he possesses he inherits, whatever jewels he may have are his family jewels. Those who speculate on the Pope's receiving till this imagined vast wealth, ore speculating on an uncertainty. Rich cardinals have; of*en left the Hoij See larze bequests, butn ueh more frequently have they, disposed T ■of their wealth >m founding needed' institutions for scientffio, benevolent, chaiitoble or religion purposes. It was oi)ly the other day <that 10. mal civil ■: recognition as a corpora'ion was given 10 the Convalescent Hospital, found d and endowed *by a bequest of the late Cardinal Quaglia in hs native city of 'Curneto, the once famous capital of; \htruria, and, strange coincidence, the will in which (this bequest was granted was drawn about the time when the •ui f. rtunate Bixio was haranguing the Italian Chamber oi deputies and wishing for "that hap y moment when tie R<man people, losing all patience, would take the Po|*e and pitoh I them into the Tiber." We might oit-e < -instances by the hundred of cardinal* %who, out of'their own private iunds, kave left foundations wldCh<to-daystand among the moet Jam ua of tLeir - class. *^W