The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-02-16
OBITUARY.
BEATH OF PoPE P1Us THE NINTH.

Masti Ferretti and his title was that 0
Count. He was born at Sinigaglia on tn,
18th of May, 1902. He was-educated for
military career, but at the age of 90 the fee
ble condition of his health diverted hin
from the army and he therefore decided t.
devote himself to the Church. He was sub
ect to epilepsy, but the disease gradually
disappeared, and after several years study
at the College of Volterra he was ordained {
priest.
His labors in the priesthood won the ap.
proval of Pope Plus VII, who sent him on 6
special mission to Chill, in South America
shortly after the recognition of that RepuB-
lie. On his return from the successful per.
formOncc Of the duties of his mission he wa:
made preBondery and placed in charge ot
the apostolic asylum or monastery of Saint
Michael. Later on in 1927, Leo MI ap.
pointed him Archbishop of spoleto, and
placed him at the head of one of the most
important of the ecclesiastico-civil depart
ments of administration. In 1882 Gregory
XVI named him as Bishop of Imola in the
Romagna. 1886 he was sent as Apostolic
Nuncio to Naples during the prevalence OF
cholera in that city, and did much to allie
viate the sunerings of the people. In ls4O
hewas created Cardinal Archbishop fImola.
In that position he gained the affections of
the people and restored peace to his diocese,
then troubled by political disaflecton, by
the zeal and self-denal with which he de-
voted himself to his duties as well as by the
liberality of his sentiments.
At the death of Gregory XVI, in 1916, he
was elected to the Papacy. Owing to his
liberal views and the integrity and benevo-
lence of his personal character, his election
was received with great joy by the Roman
people. He acquired great popularity by
favoring the hopes and wishes of the people
for a reform of the Papal Government, chose
the liberal Cardinal Gi2z for his Secretary
of State, introduced laymen to share in
the civil administration, taxed the clergy.
appointed a commission for the revisEa., ef
the Roman code of laws, and diminished
largely the expenses of the Papal Court.
The effect of these changes was felt not only
in Rome but throughout Italy.
Crowds of adventures, doctrinaries and
restless and desperate spirits were attracted
to Rome from all parts of Europe, and tu-
mul:uous public demonstration followed.
Plus TX issued an order iorbidding public
demonstrations, and Cardinal Gizzi resigned
and was replaced by Cardinal Ferretti.
Meanwhile the French Revolution of lS4S
had broken out, intestine strife had begun
in Italy, and the revolutionary spirit was
becoming active on all sides. The Pope at
once instituted number of reforms, among
which was the convoking of a Council Of
State, a body of notables, which, shortly
thereafter, met under the Presidency of Car
dinal Antonelli. This body, influenced by
the feeling then prevalent in Italy, demand
ed the freedom of the press, the league of
the Italian States, the emancipation of the
Jews and the removal ofthe Jesuites. These
demands were epartiolly acceded TO but when,
upon the triumph Of the revolutionary
couso. the moderate marty, covo ,vov to rovo-
lutionarv leaders, and other CHANCES mora
sweenirr were demanded, tho Pono f,urd
himself urobIe to c,,nnlv with tbo dero,ds
made upon him. From that nonort bis
ponpIoritv bocon IN decline A roIicv Of
reaction commenced. and that fact. togotbor
with the circumstances that tbc Pon,I or,ry
had taken mart with the Apstriors o,,irst
the Venctians and NTilanese in their strrc.
Gle for liberty, brouqbt matters IN a crisis ot
Rome. and the Pope fund bi,nsaIf cornroI-
Iod IN ,,ioId to tIo Io,dors or ,l, p,,,,r.Ii,,,
marty and form - ribsroI ,ri,is.r,. ,,,,Io,.
NTon,io,,i Tli, ,,,iri.,,.,, ,l,t,.,,,;,,,l -,
an onti,,I,. dia,r,mt fiyo 80 - c','' Cl.'
,I,ot ,n,,.;.,,-,,. - H.. ....t-,y'i
,,r-,,i,,.,, r., a., D., ii -.
,rtho olorio,l ,lornont ,Ta,,ia,,i rd,;,,,,,J
Count Pas.i ris s,ooos,,r Lnoar,a - '' ~,
n,np,,r t,,t t,yo ,,,r+hs ,G,r 1,is ooo,ssi,,,
T., ,,,,,.,,. H., ,,, ,s,,,.i,,,.,l -, A., go g