The Papal Secretary of State

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 47, 21 November 1907, Page 11

The Papal Secretary of State

The recent attacks by Socialists at Castelgandolfo on the Papal Secretary of State, His Eminence' Cardinal Merry del Val, direct attention to the office which he so worthily fills and" to the duties and responsibilities appertaining to it. The Papal Secretaryship of State; as now constituted, was created in the 15th century, and came into being as the result of the change of politico-religious situation arising from various schisms. Previously the government of the Church had been theological or canonical, political negotiations being practically unknown, since the Holy See only commanded and affirmed, and never discussed. The growth of the Papal States naturally gave rise to political exigencies requiring the creation of a new office. The importance of the great post, which really entailed all the energies and attention of the occupant, won for its holder the title of Cardinale Padrone, or MasterCardinal, a prestige which still attaches to it. He is above every other Cardinal in official importance and dignity. How necessary is it that the Vatican should have its Prime Minister can be seen when one considers that the following countries have their special representatives at the Court of the Sovereign Pontiff :— 'Austria, Spain, Prussia, Bavaria, .Portugal, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Ectiador, Pjm-u, Hayti, San Domingo, and Monaco.

On her part the Church has her diplomatic representatives in Austria, Spain," Portugal, Belgium, Bavaria, Holland, and Brazil,~vrith delegates-apostolic for Ecuador, Bavaria, Peru, San Domingo, Hayti, and Venezuela. Russia has also an - official representative at .Rome. Twice a -week, on -Tuesdays and Fridays, the CardinalSecretary receives in turn the ambassadors . and special envoys. This" is the Secretary's first function, his second being the conducting of a voluminous mass of correspondence -with _the nuJicios and intemuncios, the dealing with their reports, and despatching instructions for their guidance. Diplomatic dinners are of rare occurrence at the Vatican, only taking place on the occasion' of the holding of Consistories. Etiquette forbids the Pope being present at them, -the duty of entertaining guests being left to the Secretary of State, his deputy. Every morning the Cardinal-Secretary is received by His Holiness, when the J situation 1 as regards - the is discussed, the Pope having been previously supplied with all the latest newspaper despatches affecting the political or religious condition of the world. On. leaving the Pope, usually at 9 o'clock in the morning, a day of hard work begins for the Secretary, the strenuousness of which is not surpassed "in the Cabinet of any Prime Minister or Sovereign in the world. Under his • orders are a score of ecclesiastical secretaries, to whom the Secretary of State"~dictates or sketches the nature of instructions in certain difficulties. This done, a series of • propositions have to be prepared for presentation on the nextday to the Pontiff, since nothing is done without his orders or instructions. As the Angelus rings,**the Cardinal-Secretary leaves his cabinet in order to receive his guests in the reception halls set aside for his particular use. Here may be seen people of distinction from all countries of the world. In the case of Cardinal Merry del Val, the peculiar fascination he exercises over people makes him the most-visited man in the Eternal City. It is no uncommon sight to see the following company at his receptions :— An English duke, not a Catholic; a New York newspaper man, belonging to a non-sectarian journal; the chief of an Irish Jesuit College; an Irish parish priest; a sporting English squire; the Austrian Ambassador to Italy; a member of the House of Commons ; a Chicago millionaire, with a couple of Harvard sons; an officer in the English Horse Guards; a Spanish bishop; a missionary from Africa— surely as interesting a collection of human beings as any host could 1 desire. At his ' business ' receptions he has need (says a French writer) of more mental agility than is given to most of the sons of men. He cannot plead that anything is outside his province, since he is acting for the Pope, in whose province for adjudication everything lies. In many ways the Cardinal-Secretary must be a mental gymnast, and it is universally" admitted that the present dignitary is equal to all demands on his tact, patience, and capacity for giving his suppliants satisfaction. The department of the Papal Secretariat is divided into two sections— that of the secretaryship proper, precis writers confidential scribes, deputies for the Cardinal-Secretary-; and that of 'Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs,' a body of prelates specially enjoined to watch the whole political drama of the world day by day, and to report upon such events as they think impinge upon the province of the Church. It is in these administrative bureaux that all distinguished prelates of the Church begin their careers.