ROME

New Zealand Tablet, 25 April 1912, Page 55

ROME

PROPAGANDA COLLEGE. When Monsignor Bonzano, Rector of the Propaganda College, departs from Rome as Apostolic Delegate to the United States, ho will leave perhaps the most cosmopolitan group in the world (says a Roman correspondent). For the idea .'of Urban VIII,, in whose reign the Propaganda College was founded, was the training for the priesthood of young men of every race, no matter how remote. I have not a list of the students attending Propaganda this year, but that of 1910 well illustrates what a world-wide gathering lives under its ancient roof. The figures approximately are as follow:—Syrians, 4; Hungarians, 5 ; English, 2; Americans, 14 Irish, 17; Maronites, 3; Newfound- ’ landers, 5; Africans, 3; Albanians, 3; Greeks, 6; Turks, 2; Nova Scotians, 6; Japanese, 2; Norwegians, 1; Gibraltese, 1; Scotch, 4; Indians, 3; Australians, 5; Danes, 2; Asiatics, 1, and one or two each from Mesopotamia, Armenia, and other remote parts, so that a good idea of the universality of the Church is to be obtained from this gathering of black, yellow, and white-skinned men who use Italian as their common language.’ \

.THE BIBLICAL INSTITUTE. tv On the first Sunday in March (writes the Rome correspondent of the Glasgow Observer) ' & very interesting ceremony took place in the Pontifical Biblical Institute. In May, 1909, the present Pope, carrying out a design of his predecessor, founded the Biblical Institute, or training school for the higher studies of Holy, Scriptures. It was not till the summer of 1910 that a house could be obtained for the purpose.; Through the initiative \ of the Rector of the ) North American

College, a very suitable building was procured- in the Piazza Pilotta, opposite North American College, and near the Palaestra; Palace, the former : . home of the exiled Stuarts. But great alterations were necessary in order to adapt the building to the purposes of a school. These alterations have just been most successfully completed, : and ; on Sunday, ; f in the presence of fourteen 1 Cardinals, numerous bishops and prelates, and a large number of clergy, this magnificent building was solemnly inaugurated. "-'The speech of inauguration :'- was made by the President of the Institute, Father Fonck, S.J. ;' ! ; : r f ;5' ;