Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-08
POPE Plus TX.
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tue ueatu vi d pUpt Is III event WHICH 10
noted among all classes Of the christian
world, aud so 1t happens that the death
which yesterday occurred in Rome has al.
ready produced its effect in the mind of ev.
cry thinking and unthinkipg follower of
the true religion. The conclave to appoint
a living successor to the dead pope will 500
meet and all the interest that can be spared
from his memory will be centered about
the sacred room at the vatican, from which
the choice of the cardinals is to emanate.
Plus IN Giovanni Maria Mastai Fer
retti) was born in the year 1892, at Siniga'
glia, in the province Ancnna, Italy. He was
originally destined for the military profess
sion, but was led to abandon his chosen
calling and accept holy orders. During the
early part Of his religious career he was a
resident Of Chill, South America. Return
ing from his mission there, he became
identified with the Catholic institutions OF
Rome and Naples, and IN 1910 was made a
cardinal and took up his residence in
Naples. Six years later Pope Gregory XVI
died, and Cardinal Ferretti was made Pope
Plus 1X. 1t is a fact recorded in history
that during the deliberations Of the COL
clave a love lighted upon the shoulder OF
Cardinal Ferretti and there laid down to
rest. 1t was O superstition honored through
ages previous that on the death of q pops a
dove was sent down from heaven to rest
upon the shoulder Of him whom the Lord
had chosen as = successor. The populace
were wild with enthusiasm at this special
mark of divine favor in behalf Of the car.
dinal and demanded that the choice of the
conclave rest upon him. 1t Injuries the pref
ty fiction somewhat when We consider that
doves we're common household pets, were
very easily trained to light upon peoples
shoulders and were in the habit of exhibit
ing that mark of affection. But Cardinal
Ferretti became pope Of Rome. His career
as reigning pontift has not been without
its troubles. Attempting a reform Of ex.
listing abuses he for a time carried the
people with him, but shortly popular
sentiment turned and in 1S4s
a revolution drove the pope from Rome and
he established himself at Galta, a Neapol-
tian seaport, where he remained until 1850,
when the French occupation of Rome gave
him a safe refuge within the holy city. Here
he abandoned his attempted reforms and
reigned over the church and state until Vic.
tor Emmanuel deprived him Of the latter
and left him the acknowledged head of the
former only. During his career the power
of the pope has been largely curtailed
through the prevailing sentiment that the
affairs of church and state had been too
much blended and that it was better for
mankind in general to separate one from the
other. For the past twenty years
Plus IN has been suffering
from serious bodily infrmities, but ne was
able almost up the last moment to perform
the duties of his position. Had he lived
until May of the present year he would have
reached his eighty-sixth birthday.
Much depends upon the choice Of a sue.
cessor to the dead pope. If a man of liberal
and advanced ideas be selected the cause
of education among the Catholics will be
largely advanced and a better state of en-
lightenment will ensue. The conclave is
soon to convene at the vatican and upon its
decision rests important issues for the fu-
ture,