Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-02-25
sKrrnH on rHE nav PoPE.

SKETCH OF TIE NRW POPE.
Gioachino Pecci was born March 2,
1910, at the village Of Carpenello, forty
miles from Rome and six miles from the
town of Anogni, the birthplace Of
Popes Innocent III, Gregory IL, Alex
auder " and Boniface VIII. His pa
rents were mobiles descended from an
ancient family of high rank. he was
placed at the Roman college at an early
age, and pursuing the usual course OF
studies entered the Ecclesiastical Aesd-
envy reserved for persons Of noble rank
who intend to pursue an ecclesiastical
career. He made rapid progress, soon
entered the priesthood, and the way to
promotion was easily opened to the blue
blooded patriciaa who had brains as well
as blood on his side. de attracted the
attention Of Gregory XVI, and on the
18th Of March, 1887, was appointed pre-
lato Of his household and reterendary at
the Vatican. Shortly after this the
young ecclesias.ic was appointed dele
gate TO the smallest Of the districts in
the papsl States, Benevento, with a ter
ritory of ffty-seven square miles and a
population of $4,000. The people we're
largely given to smuggling, and nsny OF
them we're brigands by profession. To
control such a population was enough to
try the young priest to his utmost, but he
succeeded admirably aud broke up both
brigsndage AID smuggling and entirely
restored order and the supremacy Of civil
lsw, and received the thanks Of the
Pope and Of the King Of Naples. After
this be was transferred to Spoleto, where
he was civil ruler Of a territory twenty
times as large. Thence he was trans
ferred to Psrugis, where, at the age of
scarcely thirty-oue, he became the center
of the cultured society Of that ancient
city. Frem this post he was soon called
by the Pope, created bishop Of Dami
eta Egypt, aud sent as Nuncio to the
Belgian eou.t at Brussels. Leopold l
although a Protestant, treated the
Nuncio with marked attention. The
effect of the climate aud the Ia.
bors of his mission sooa compelled
him to solicit q recall, muck to the re
greet Of Leopold, who conferred on him
the grand Gordon Of bis order and gave
him a sealed note for the pope. This
was found to contain a request for the
pope to appoint Mgr. Peeei q cardinal
The pope appointed him archbishop Of
Perugis in the consistory Of January 10
1916, and it has been ssid created him
cardinal in petto at the same time. This
means 10 secret, to be proclaimed after.
ward, and TO take effect from the date Of
appointment. This, however. has been
disputed. Gregory XVI died the same
year, and Plus TX did not make him e
cardinal until seven years afterward
This delay has been attributed TO
the hostility Of Cardinal Antonsli,
who was his lifelong foe o. toe 18th Of
December, 1853, Plus TX created and
proclaimed Pecci cardinal by the title Of
st, Crisogono. He still ATTENDED Ito the
charge OF his archdiocese, where he
passed many years. he founded the
Academy Of st, Thomas AquinHs for the
advancement Of theological studies, be.
came a patron Of art, aud continued hi.
lsbors until that portion Of the Stste Of
the Church was seized by the king Of
Italy. He refused to have any communi
cation with the civil authorities, accepted
the inevitable, and continued to admins
ter the affairs Of his diocese without col
lision. He wisely submitted to TIE DEGREES
OF Providence. Last September Carolina
Pecci was appointed by Pope Pua ~
Chamberlain oftke Holy Roman Church.
and at the death Of the Pops he became
by virtue Of his position, head Of III,
Sacred college and the executive Of thu
government. Cardinal Pecci was eleete,
Pope by the conclaye Of Cardinals a
Rome, after the third ballot, by adore
ton, on the 10Th of February. Their
were sixty-one cardinals present. I'll
conclave lasted forty hours. On To
third ballot Pecci received thirty.si.
votes, not two.thirds. Ten or twelve q
the cardinals, who bad not voted for him
advanced and kneeled to Pecci, and thi
set created him Pope. 1t was declare
the election by alteration. He ium.
diately assumed the title of Leo XIII.