The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1878-02-24
The 8ullatia.
THE NEW POPE.

History OF His Career as DeIes ate, n
Nuncio, n Bishop, as Archbishop
and q Cardinal.
Gloyacchino Peccl-now pope Leo XIII.
was born on the I'd of March, 1910, at
Carpenet0, near Anagni, Of an old patri'
elan family. He was In favor wi b Pope
Gregory XVI, in whose household he was
for some time as private referendry, and
who employed him az his delegate, first at
Brnevento, then at Spolet0 and Perugia,
where he did good work In Kidding some
OF those districts OF the prevailing scourge
OF byigandage Pecci was subsequently
sent as Nuucio TO Brussels, created arch
bishop of Perugia, and was one OF the can
didates for whom the old pope reserved
the honor Of the purple when he died in
1915. Pecci remained, however. a cortinal
in petto IN spite Of the good offices OF the
king OF the Belgisns, VINO solicited the ne W
pope, Plus IN, to fulfill the benevolent in-
tentions OF his predecessor.
Seven years elapsed before Plus TX.
NonO w thC iNbOlutAOh w w JuEtiSN w thC
candidate OF Gregory's choice, and this de-
lay was owing to the il-will Of Cardinal
Antonelli, who dreaded che influence OF an
able man over the pope's mind. At lasts
on the 10th OF December, 1858, Pecci re-
eeived the hat, but tor many years he was
left in the cold at his see of Perugia, the
csrdinal-seeretsry of the state standing in
the way Of any preferment which might
bring dreaded rival too nelr the vatican.
In 1874, we are told, upon the death Of
Cardinal Barnabo, perfect OF the propagan-
ds, an English prelate suggested Pecci to
the pope as q man competent to ill the va
csncy. "Pecci," pleaded the Englishman,
sis SO learned man, aud so gooJ bish-
op." "Just So" broke In tie pope, San
excellent bishop, and we will cave him to
take care OF his diocese" More recently
another opening occurred. Upon the Of
fee of Pro Datario becoming vacant by the
death of Cardinal Vannieell. Casoni, Pecci
relied on bis appointment, and, leaving
Perugia, he took up his quarters in Rome.
In the Falconieri palace; bu. he was again
unsuccessful, the place being given to Car
dinal Ssccoli; aud IL is only now, since the
removal Of ADtonelli by death, that Pecci
obtained free access to the pope, who had
chosen HIM a. Csrdenal- Gamer eng,
The GLOWING ian extract from letter
from Rome. published n the London Times
last September: 1.-THE telegraph has al
ready made you acquainted with the e.ult
OF fridays consistory. The cope had
some time since expressed wish 10 fllupI
tho place Of CAmerlengo. vacant in oonss-
quence Of the death Of Cardinal de Angels,
by appointing Cardinal Pecci to he cfHc,
which the pope's death might at any time
invest with supreme importance. 1t was,
however, understood that Pecci had de
clined the intended honor, pleading rea
sons which seem to have been satisfactory
to his holiness. Subsequently. the p, pes
choice was suppose TO have fallen on Car
dinal anebianco, but II is not unlikely
that o. jecti0ns arose on the part OF this
prelate also, inasmuch as it was wen known
that he was not without hope Of obtaining
the highest rank in the hierarchy al the
next papal election, and there are but rare
instances, and none recent, Of q Cameren-
go-who is looked upon as apope maker,
and who exercise the whole authority Of
the pope during The interregnum-e,er OBJ
tanning the votes OF the Sacred College on
his own behalf. The pope, therefore, went
back to his former choice, and overcame
Pecci's resistance by that authority which
makes any decision of his, whether SPRING
ing up spontaneously in his MINI, or
adopted at the sugg stion Of his secret
wire.pullers. a law for all his subordinates,
at least during his lifetime. Pecci is thus
now the Csmerlengo, and the chance Of
Psnsbiano's election to the Pontifcate re-
mains what it was"