Extract from a letter from Joseph P. Walshe to Frederick H. Boland (Dublin)

[matter omitted]

I saw Mgrs. Montini and Tardini yesterday. Both were extremely affable and both referred with great feeling to the Taoiseach's message which they believed was the chief factor in saving Rome.¹ They were most generous in their tributes to the great work done by Ireland in the world and showed considerable knowledge of our country and its work for the Faith all over the world.

I did not touch on the Cardinal question at these first visits.² But I shall have an opportunity very soon as they urged me to come and see them as often as possible.

I have no doubt that they have heard a great deal of good about us from the Nunciature as well as from Dr. Kiernan. Their welcome was absolutely genuine. They mentioned details of our kindness to the Nuncio. He has certainly been a great friend. What a change from my visit in 1929 to negotiate the exchange of representatives.³ Then I found the Vatican (Cardinal Gaspari, Cardinal Pizzardo and Monsignore Borgongina Duca) in the completest ignorance of our affairs and of our work for the Catholic Faith. The Taoiseach may feel immensely consoled at the change that has taken place. His policy towards the Holy See, his visits here, and his attitude towards the Nuncio have been rewarded a hundredfold. Please God I shall now do my best to cash in on all that and endeavour to crystallize and bring to fruition what has been done. The precise date for my reception by the Holy Father has not yet been fixed, but it is to be very soon.

[matter omitted]

Here I should add a word of praise for the Kiernans. You can tell the Taoiseach that they have done wonderful work in Rome. I have met all the heads of the Irish houses (Irish College, Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinians, Christian Brothers), and most of the inhabitants of them, and their praise for Dr. and Mrs. Kiernan is beyond description. The main burden of their conversations with me has turned on the way in which the Kiernans have brought them out of the obscurity in which they were left by their predecessors who, with the exception of the Assistant Secretary,⁴ made practically no effort to give them any position in Vatican circles or society. Moreover, the Kiernans never ceased to have their interests at heart and to express their sympathy on every possible occasion in the most concrete fashion. Mrs. Kiernan is regarded as a mother to them all, and she has won the affection and esteem of all those with whom she came in contact - diplomatic corps, colleges and convents. She has been described to me as the finest character of an Irishwoman they have ever met. This praise has been repeated to me by Mgr. Montini and Mgr. Tardini and by D'Arcy Osborne⁵ (who invited me to lunch last Sunday with the Kiernans). I hope you will emphasise all this to the Taoiseach so that he may feel completely justified in his choice of them for Australia, and full of confidence that they will do a very great work there. They have received endless presents on their departure - including some very valuable paintings. Dr. Kiernan has received a decoration from the Holy See and Mrs. Kiernan was made a Dame of the Holy Sepulchre - quite a rare honour, I understand from the initiated.