An Historic Stride

On the edge of the city of Rome are a few irregular acres, carefully defined, upon which are a garden and some crowded buildings--the world's most famous church, the world's most famous chapel, a very famous art gallery, miles of corridors, a few apartments. They are the Vatican. Outside of these acres, no foot of Pope has ever trod since 1870.

To the right of the Portone di Bronzo, across the square (Piazza San Pietro), stands a welfare institution conducted by Americans (K. of C.) for Italian children. Ferdinand Tuohy, correspondent of The New York World, telegraphed to his paper that Pope Pius XI would visit and dedicate this institution on Wednesday, April 9. Impossible?

The K. of C. building for children has a frontage of 600 feet, includes everything from theatre to kitchens. In addition, five playing fields will soon accommodate 20,000 Roman youngsters.

Papal self-imprisonment in the Vatican is a perpetual protest against: 1) The action of Italian armies in wresting the Papal States from Pope Pius IX and joining them to the Kingdom of Italy; 2) More general, denial of the temporal power of the Pope.

That the Pope will this summer go

to his villa (Sangondolfo) in the hills,

is thought likely. It will be a literal crossing of the Rubicon.

Mussolini would like nothing better than that the Pope should quit prison.