Cardinal Rampolla

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 24, 11 June 1903, Page 11

Cardinal Rampolla

The ' Nouvelle Revue • has published a striking paper on Cardinal Rampolla, who is still a young man, Deing on the right side of 60— young, that is to say, for a Cardinal of Holy Church, and for a man who has filled for several years now a position of extreme difficulty with the greatest success. The Cardinal comes from one of the oldest of the Italian patrician families, and was bora on August 27, 1843 He made up his mind to be a priest almost when a child, and began his studies at the Vatican Seminary, where his wonderful mental gifts marked him out as a man destined for rapid preferment. At the age of 30 he was attached to the Papal Nunciature at Madrid. Then came the Carlist war, which afforded the young ecclesiastic an opportunity for the exercise of his gifts of diplomacy. For, during the absence of his chief, he had to meet both parties to the conflict, when he displayed extraordinary intelligence and astuteness. In time Monsignor Rampolla succeeded the Papal Nuncio at Madrid, when he was called upon by Leo XIII. to arbitrate in the difficult case concerning the Caroline Islands. So pleased vtas the present Holy Father with the result of his mediation tnat he recalled the Nuncio from Madrid, and appointed him to the high office of Papal Secretary of State, a position which Cardinal Rampolla has filled now for 15 years. This one fact is probably

fJ^f^f^i* 8 * P*? 1 * Cardinal's wonderful ability. Hte SpSSi^L 8 ?!. 1*1!:1 * 1 !: sli S ht< and dark - full of energy, and blessed with the charming manners and high-bred courtesy which seems to be the birth-right of great Italian £«i i iSSSS* ii The *? ite of apartments occupied by Cardinal .Hampolla is situated on the third floor of tie Vatican, above those of the Venerable Pontiff Leo XIH. Both suites command a magnificent view over the Eternal City. The Cardinal rises at daybreak and says Mass in M» ?i?25 *£ ba P 6i ' He . , then reftds his correspondence and selects the innumerable documents and despatches Whfctt have to be shown to the Pope. Then comes breakfast, alter which he has an interview with the Holy Fattier. Next there to the hardest task of all. that of receiving visitors of all classes and from all countries. On Tuesdays and Fridays his doors are only open to the Diplomatic Corps. Truly a busy life, full of care and anxiety.