Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-20
From the Baltimore american.
DEATH OF THE POPE, LEO X

The Catholic Church is in mourning. Its
head, the worthy Vicar Of Jesus Christ on
earth, has departed for better life. He has
gone to the bosom of God, to join the Holy
Pontifs who have been seated before him in
the chair of St Peter The whole Catholic
world will long regret him. His Ponti6cate
has heen short, but marked by acts which
will make him celebrated in the annals of the
Church
LEO XII was born in 1860, near Spoletta,
and belonged to the ancient and llustrious ia
mily Della Genga Before his elevation to
the pontiical throne, he had been successive
ly Archbishop of Tyre in Pariibus, Bishop
of Senigaglia, Cardinal Priest by the title of
St. Mary Frastevera, and at last Vicar. Gene
raj of His Holiness Pope Plus vii. The
purple was conferred OIL him in 1916 by that
sovereign Pontiff, after his return from France,
where he had been charged with mission at
the court of His Most Christian Majesty
His elevation to the Papacy exhibits this pc
cuiarity, that he was perhaps the Cardinal
least thought Of. This is so rue that in the
first fortnight of the Conclave of 1928, he OBJ
tanned but very few suffrages The greatest
number of votes was given to Cardinal Seve-
ROM, who was on the point of being elected,
when it was declared in Conclave that Aus
tria was opposed to that nomination" Car
dinal Severoni then declared himself for the
Cardinal DeAa Genga, who was elected a
few days after. am able TO speak with GER
tainty of this, for the account of the election
was shown me at Rome, and left in my hands
for several days.
LEO XII. had scarcely been elevated TO the
Pontifcal Throne when he undertook the re-
form of the Clergy in the Roman States, and
in so efficient manner that an important
change was remarked in the habits and man.
ners of the priests Of that country. He de-
clared in Consis,ory, that in future the pur-
pie should be conferred on real merit only,
without respect to birth and Offices, which be-
fore gave title 10 it.; and in various selec-
tons which he made, he was faithful to his
word. Notwithstanding the representations
of the King Of Spain, he gave bulls to the
Bishops nominated by the governments Of
the new republics of America, because he
considered himself the father of the Faithful,
and thought thai under this title he ought ra-
Their to watch for the good of the churches Of
those people, than to agree to the senseless
policy Of Ferdinand 9TH. These, among a
thousand others, are acts which will immor-
talize the pontifcate of Leo XII. and trans.
NIT his name to posterity together with those
of Leo X, Innocent XII. and Benedict XIV.
Theprivate character OF this Sovereign Pom
tiff was not less admirable than his public.
He divided his time equally between his de-
votions and the cares of business. He reduc-
ed the expenses of his household in order to
be the better enabled to give succour to the
unfortunate, and rewards to those who SEEM
ed to him worthy of them. His erudition
was profound. The literature Of no country
was unknown to him, and he was acquainted
in an eminent degree with that of France and
Italy. Thus he encouraged letters, the sci
ences and the arts, by all the means in his
power. He often went from the Vatican
without retinue, to the work shop of a sculp-
The King of France, the Emperor Of Austria, and
the King of Spain have leach the right to oppose the
elevation Of . cardinal to the pontical chair; and
when they have declared their intentions to the Con-
clave, the cardinals cannot elect him 10 whom these
suyereigns are OpNosed