The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-02-14
OBITUARY. POPE Plus TX.


1878, he would have completed thirty
two years as Pontiff, the longest in the
history of the church; st. Peter reached
25 years and 2 months; Sylvester LIST, 23
years, 10 months and % days, and Adrian
lst, % years, 10 months and IA days.
The Pope's christian name is Giovanni
Marie, and he was born May 18th, 1892,
at Sinigaglia, Italy. His father was
Count Mastai Feretti, and his mother the
Countess Catharine Salszzi. Designed
for the church, his education was shaped
accordingly. In 1909, the young student
went to Rome to reside with his uncle, a
Canon in the Vatican Basilica, but were
soon compelled to fly for the first Napo-
icon seized the Roman States In 1872,
at the age Of twenty, he joined the
guard of honor at Milan, but was soon re-
lieved, owing to delicate health, having
suffered for four years from epilep.
tic fits. 1t was two or three years before
he resumed his theological studies, but
his attacks becoming less violent he was
admitted to minor orders. Owing to bis
liability to sudden attacks his public
ministrations were accompanied by an.
other clergyman, and this requirement
was not removed till after an audience
with the Pope in 1919.
In 1923 he was sent on a mission to
Chill, whence he returned on the break
ing out of the revolution in 1926
Shortly after this, Leo XII. appointed
him Archbishop of Spoleto, and in 1882,
Gregory XVI. made him Cardinal, be-
ing proclaimed such December IA, 1910.
The Pope dying June l, 1S46, the Sacred
College after two days balloting chose
Cardinal Mastai, Pope on the 18th of
June, 1916, and he took the name of
Plus. This was a great victory for
young Italy, and the liberals were over.
joyed and the public rel oicing was great.
The new Pore did not disappoint the
expectations Of the liberals, as he COM
menCed his reign by the introduction OF
reforms of a nature more progressive
than any that had been granted by pre-,
vious Popes; but he soon found himself
overwhelmed by the revolutionary wave
which passed over Europe in 1848, from
which date till the time of its total ex.
tinCtion few years ago, the temporal
power of the Pope was dependent for its
existence on foreign bayonets.
The French revolution in February,
l848, that drove Louis Philippe into exile
aroused the Roman people and Pope
Plus was compelled to grant new Cab.
met composed of ten lay members and
but three eCclesiastiCs. He was soon
dragged into the war with Sardinia
against Austria much against his will.
During the summer of 1848 the revo-
lutionary passions were violently excited
in Rome, and, although many reforms
were introduced, they were not sufi.
Cientlv radical for the revolutionary par.
ty. On November 10Th the Minister,
Count Rozzi, was murdered on his way
to the Chambers, by man named Con-
stantadine, who stabbed him in the
neck. That evening the clubs and soCi-
eties met and determined to take advan-
tage of the paralysis which the murder
had caused the Papal Government
Next morning crowd attacked the Qui-
rinal, but were driven back by the Swiss
Guard. They returned, however, rein
forced, and after some firing the Pope
ordered his guard to cease firing, and said
to his diplomatic body that he was no
longer free agent, and must yield to ne
Cessity. On the list of ministers which
the insurgents had drawn up being pre-
sented to him, he refused to sign; which,
when the. crowd learned, they became
tumultuous, and cried out "sign, sign"
till at last the Pope complied. The Pope
now virtually became a prisoner in his
own palace, and took no part in public
affairs, though the Government was car
ried on in his name. This position was
insupportable, and he therefore deter
mined to seek refuge in flight; and so, on
the oath he escaped from Rome, and sue
Ceeded in reaching Gaeta, in the Nea.
politan territory. Immediately after.
wards the Cardinals considered it adVisi-
BILE to follow his example. Directly il
was known the Pope had escaped, the
ministry sent a deputation requesting
his return, but they were not permitted
to pass the frontier. The Pontiff declar.
ed that the Ministry was illegal and all
its acts void, whereupon both Chambers
Professionally deprived him of temporal
power, and decreed the election of a
Provisional Supreme Sunta" for the
purpose of carrying on the Government,
its functions ito terminate upon the re-
turn of the Sovereign Pontiff, or when he
shall himself appoint, according to con-
stitutiOnal forms, a substitute of his own
selection" Plus TX. remained at Gaeta
and Portici nearly year and half an
exile from his capital. The return of
the Pope to Rome did not take place un-
til nine months after its occupation bv
the French, which took place on July s,
1849. He left PortiCi April 4, 1850, es-
corted by Neapolitan and French troops,
and accompanied by the King of Naples,
his dominions on the 9th, and
re.entered Rome on the 18th, amid the.
Joyous civilizations Of the faithful.
After the Austrian war Victor EN-
manuel seized large part of the states
Of the Church, and in 1867 q Garibald-
AN force attempted to seize Rome, but
he Pope's troops assisted by the French
prevented III lO(U. however, AFTER the
French troops had been removed march
ID an army into Rome and took posses.
ZION, since which time the holy city has
been the capital Of united Italy.
Among the signal epochs of his reign
We may mention the Definition of the
immaculate Conception in 1854, the En-
,yClical and Syllabus in 1864, and the
Meeting, in December, 1859, of the Ecu
nenical Council at the Vatican, the first
General council held since that of Trent, !
which met upwards of three hundred
Iears ago. The Council of the Vatican |
vas attended by nearly nine hundred |
,relates, from every part of the world.-I
)ne Of the results of its deliberations has
'een the declaration of the infallibility |
f the er cathedra teachings of the su.
RENE head of the Church. On the 10Th
f October, 1871, the sittings of the
,ouncil were suspended by the Pope, on
be ground that the territorial rights of
be Church had been violated, and that
ne freedom of the Council was no longer