BENEDICT XV: (1854-1922) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1914-22. A fine A.L.S., Benedictus PP XV, four pages ...

BENEDICT XV: (1854-1922) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1914-22. A fine A.L.S., Benedictus PP XV, four pages, small 4to, The Vatican, 29th September 1916, to Giorgio Gusmini, on attractive colour embossed stationery featuring the Papal armorial incorporating the coat of arms of the della Chiesa family with the imperial eagle added in chief, in Italian. The Pope announces 'I applaud the warning that You gave to Rocca d'Adria: we hope that today's publication of the ''Unita Cattolica''….managed to open his eyes' and continues 'when he published that Conte Dalla Torre attended the Cova banquet I wrote to him myself that ''it was a lie''. Now I do not understand what he is referring to, and from whom he receives the pieces of paper [containing messages] of which Your Eminence provided me with a specimen', further explaining 'I can affirm that such pieces of paper do not come from the Vatican. Rocca d'Adria seems to mention something that was done a long time ago (such a thing ended long before the death of Leo XIII) but at that time this thing could have been legitimate; now it is surely not, because it is ignored by the Pope and by the Cardinal Secretary of State!!' The Pope also adds 'Actually, I would like to shed light, because I do not deny that a Prelate - now fully pushed away from the Vatican - acted as inspiration for foreign newspapers, it could be that he tricked Rocca d'Arbia too: Your Eminence, find out the source of these pieces of paper…..that are lying!' The Pope concludes by remarking that he is happy to see the positive news regarding his correspondent's health, refers to an upcoming visit to Bologna ('I cannot say that I am happy about the feast that is intended to take place to celebrate my visit'), and also writes 'Concerning Molinello, this evening Mons. Boggiani told me that he is waiting for a reply from Your Eminence: the benefit shall be such that I have even agreed to pay the six thousand lira that were demanded!' Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by the Pope. A letter of intriguing content, About EX Giorgio Gusmini (1855-1921) Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Bologna 1914-21. Cesare Algranati (1865-1925) Italian Journalist who wrote under the pseudonym of Rocca d'Adria. Born into a family of Jewish origin, he converted to Catholicism and anti-Masonicism. Giuseppe Dalla Torre (1885-1967) Italian Journalist, director of the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano from 1920-60