Vatican Notes

Encyclical. The great New York Times published the full text of the encyclical letter of His Holiness, Pius XI, announcing to his "venerable brothers" the celebration of the hepta-centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, who talked with birds, who received upon his body the stigmata of the Wounds of Christ. The reigning pontiff: . . . Since our immediate predecessor has assigned this saint, who was sent by Divine Providence for the reformation not only of the turbulent age in which he lived, but ot Christian society of all times, to Catholic organizations engaged in social activities as their patron, it is only right that our children who labor in this field according to our commands should in union with the numerous Franciscan brotherhood call to mind and praise the works, the virtues and the spirit of the seraphic patriarch.

"While doing this, they must reject that purely imaginary figure of the saint conjured up by the defenders of modern error. . . .

"He who called himself the 'Herald of the Great King' was also rightly spoken of as 'another Jesus Christ,' appearing to his contemporaries and to future generations almost as if he were the Risen Christ. He has always lived as such in the eyes of men and so will continue to live for all future time. . . ."

The Pope's niece, Contessa Ratti, whose marriage to Marquis Eduardo Persichetti Ugolini of the Nicaraguan legation is to be celebrated, in October, recently asked her potent uncle to perform the ceremony. The Pope has not yet said whether he will or not.

In Rome, last week, the Pope, passing through the Basilica of St. Peter, heard a confused disorder down a twilit aisle, turned his face to look and, seeing nothing, passed on. A young prelate who had been sitting in that aisle was at the moment being led off to confinement between two Vatican gendarmes. Hearing the Pope's step he had sprung upon a chair, burst into a sacrilegious harrangue. The clever gendarmes did not attempt to eject him. Instead, they attracted his attention by making funny faces until the Pope had gone by. Then they arrested him. The unknown blasphemer suffered, it is said, from a temporary attack of insanity.

Intrigue. The Pope has sent an apostolic letter to his vicars and apostolic prefects in China, denying Chinese charges of political Church intrigue, urging a native Chinese clergy.