Photo of Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto, the future Pope St. Pius X.
Before traveling to Rome for the conclave that would elect him Pope, St. Pius X received a visit from the Countess of Capegna who expressed her desire that he be the chosen one:
— “Your Eminence, I pray that the Holy Ghost will deign to land upon you.”
— “Countess,” replied the saint, “your opinion of the Holy Ghost is very poor.”
The crowd hearing the announcement from Cardinal Luigi Macchi of the Conclave’s decision to elect Cardinal Sarto as the new Vicar of Christ on earth.
Vicente Vega, Diccionario ilustrado de frases célebres y citas literárias (Barcelona: Gustavo Gili, 1955), 423. (Nobility.org translation.)
Short Stories on Honor, Chivalry, and the World of Nobility—no. 419
