The Charleston Daily News

ARCHBISHOP SPALDING AND THE POPE.

An Interesting Letter from Rome.

A correspondent of the Baltimore Catholic Mirror, writing from Rome, under date of the 25th ult., gives the following particulars of a recent interview between Pope Pius and Archbishop Spalding:

On Sunday evening last the Most Rev. Archbishop of Baltimore, accompanied by Rev. Father McManus and your correspondent, repaired to the Vatican Palace, where we had the honor of a private audience of the Holy Father. His Grace and two companions being the only individuals forming the audience, was a circumstance which gave additional relish to the pleasure of our visit. For the Pope is said to be in his most attractive mood when he lays aside the official formality he assumes in presence of large meetings and appears in the charming simplicity of his interior life. If the Sovereign Pontiff in all great ceremonies commands the admiration of thousands by the dignity and majesty of his countenance, he excites the love of those who meet him in familiar conversation. In public we reverence the Pope; in private we are attracted by the benignity of the man.

The Archbishop, on entering into the presence of the Holy Father, handed him a large jar of snuff, remarking at the same time: "Holy Father, I have promised you ten years more of life, and during that time I claim the privilege of supplying you with snuff. It is just arrived from New York." "If your prediction is verified," replied the Holy Father, laughing, and familiarly putting his hands on the Archbishop's shoulders, "I shall keep you to your word, and if you fail in your supply I will send the sheriff after you." His Grace said there would be no failure in the supply of snuff if his Holiness would fulfil his part of the contract by outliving the ten years, as he earnestly hoped. While the Holy Father was subscribing his name to a petition of the Archbishop, his Holiness remarked that he had a cold. "A very common complaint in Rome," observed the Archbishop, "for though the faith of your city is most Catholic, its climate is most heterodox. If you have a succession of every wind on the compass, nave a succession of every wind of doctrine pass," a remark which his Holiness seemed to enjoy very much.

The Archbishop, on presenting Father McManus to us, spoke of the good works which that model priest had done in his Episcopal city; of the church he built and the pious congregation he formed—a remark equally flattering to the good pastor and his devoted flock. The Holy Father listened with evident satisfaction to the well-merited eulogy of his Grace, and after giving his blessing to Father McManus, empowered him to confer on his congregation the Papal benediction on his return to Baltimore.

Some remark having been made on the slow progress of the Council, the Archbishop playfully said that the Americans were a fast going people, and repeated to his Holiness what he said he had previously observed to some dignitaries of the Church, that the use of a little American steam would expedite matters a good deal. Several other pleasant subjects were discussed, but their personal and private nature render them less interesting to the general reader.

Father McManus, whose condition was so critical for some days as to excite the uneasiness of his friends, is now, I am happy to say, almost fully restored to health. This news will be received with joy by his numerous acquaintances in Baltimore, and particularly by his immediate congregation.