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"The Jesuits in Nanyo-cho and Admiral Shinjiro Stefano Yamamoto, a monk in military uniform” (7)

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'Pray for the Emperor'
The climax of Yamamoto's trip to various countries was a visit to the Vatican.
As Kigley writes, on 21 January 1938, coinciding with the time when Yamamoto was explaining Japan's four positions on the Japan-Sino War, he had an audience with Pius XI, the 259th Pope, at the Holy See.
Pius XI had been elected Pope in February 1922, following the sudden death of the previous Pope, Benedict XV. He ascended to the papacy seven months after the meeting between the Crown Prince (Emperor Showa) and Benedict XV.
Until then, he had been a Cardinal, whose real name was Achille Ratti, and until eight months earlier he had been the Director of the Vatican Library, a "humble" figure with an academic background and a hobby of mountain climbing. This was Yamamoto's first audience with Pius XI, but his fourth with the Pope.
Pius XI kept Yamamoto for 45 minutes longer than planned, and the two met alone.
Yamamoto was not sure how much the Pope, whom he was meeting for the first time instead of the more familiar and pro-Japanese Benedict XV, would understand about Japan and the situation in the East.
"If there was anything about Japan that he did not know, I would tell him, or if he had any unusual ideas, I would explain them to him."
But this was not necessary at all.
Yamamoto was surprised to find that the Pope understood Japan down to the very last detail. He also knew the situation in the Far East in general so well that he was able to explain Japan's position to Yamamoto.
Furthermore, the Pope made an unexpected remark. Pointing to the military sword Yamamoto was wearing, he asked,
"Is your sword an old sword or a new sword? "
Japanese swords made before the Edo period (1603-1867) are called old swords and those made after that are called new swords. Yamamoto had been granted an audience with more than 20 monarchs and Heads of State, including the Pope. But it was the first time that he was asked about the military sword on his waist.
So much so that
"How do you know about it?"
Yamamoto asked in return. The Pope said.
"When I was Director of the Catholic Library in Milan, I found three or four old Japanese swords. They were very fine works of art and they were very sharp."
The answer was typical of Pius XI, a man of academic abilities, so Yamamoto was relieved to learn of his extraordinary interest in and fondness for Japan.
Later, when Yamamoto spoke of the Emperor's wonderful "virtues", having served him for nearly 20 years, His Holiness was delighted and said: 
"I have prayed for the Emperor, but from now on I will pray for him at certain times. It is for His Majesty, for the Imperial Family and for Japan."
 
Shinjiro Yamamoto had only to be grateful. In fact, the Pope had his own reasons for showing so much goodwill towards Japan.