Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1889 — The Pope a Great Chess-Player. [ARTICLE]

The Pope a Great Chess-Player.

London Court Journal The Pope has a weakness for chess. He is a very fine player, and in the amateur ranks is said to have few superiors in the knowledge of gambit 8 and openings. There is one priest in Rome who has the especial honor of being the Pope’s adversary over the board. This priest—Father Giella—has played chess with Leo Pecci for thirty-two years past When Cardinal Pecci was raised to the Papal throne,! Father Giella, who was then in got an invitation to proceed to Romeknd take up his quarters in the Vatican. Giella is hottempered, and has been known to look very black indeed at the Vicar of Christ across his chess-board. The Pone takes Giella’s temper good naturedly, and often improves the occasion by a little homily on the virtues of resignation and meekness.