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Show LjAL SECRETARY OF STATE j r ... Cardinal Domenlco Ferrata, secretary secre-tary of the congregation of the holy office, whom the' new Pope Benedict XV has appointed secretary of state, is regarded as the member of the Sacred college best fitted to occupy this office, second only in importance and influence to that of the papacy itself just at this time, because of the heavy burden resting upon the Vatican Vati-can due to the war. He succeeds Cardinal Car-dinal Merry Del Val, secretary under Pope Pius X. Cardinal Ferrata ha.3 had a diplomatic diplo-matic influence such as comes to few of the college of cardlials. He has had exceptional experience in ecclesiastical ecclesi-astical matters, and he has always manifested a friendly disposition toward to-ward the leading statesmen of Italy and the reigning house of Savoy. His choice of secretary Is most pleasing to the Italian government, and it is prophesied he may do much to heal the breach between it and the Vatican. . The new secretary is sixty-seven years old. He was the papal legate to the world's eucharistic congress on the island of Malta in April, 1913, and on his return gave Plus X an extensive account of it. The cardinal was born at Monteflascono, diocese of Gradoli. He was created and proclaimed a cardinal cardi-nal June 22, 1S96. He is archpriest of the Katrlarchal Laterau Arch-Basilica. He was much mentioned as a possible successor of Pius X and has long been talked of for secretary of state. |