New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-21
POPE LEO XIII.

The Italians have saying to illustrate the
falaciousness of all predictions as to the ac-
tons of the conclave: Chi entra papa, esce
cardinale--"He who is pope when he goes In,
twill be only a cardinal when he comes out"
But in this instance the Sacred College has de-
ceived popular sagacity by doing just what
was foretold of it. Cardinal Pecci, long be-
fore the death of Plus TX, was fire.
quentIy named in Rome as the probable
successor to the Papal thrOne-more
frequently perhaps than any other Cardinal
now living; and the prOmptness with which
the election was effected shows that there can
have been little or no doubt from the first as
to his prcGminent fitness and availability.
Plus IN. was chosen almost as quickly but In
1916 there were political reasons for haste
which do not exist now. The speedy result
of this election can only be regarded as
striking testimonial of the high opinion enter
tanned of the new Pope by his associates in
the college. All accounts of him, indeed, are
flattcrng. BY common agreement, he Is man
of bameless life, strong mind, gentle DISPOSE
ton, culture, scholarship, refined manners, and
sincere piety. We publish in other columns
the particulars of his past career, and such
illustrations of his character as can be gath
cred from those who know the Roman court,
and together with these details we give
some lively extracts from recent CORE
spondence of The London Times, which we
advise our readers to accept with considerable
reserve. Among the various items of mlsin-
formation disseminated from this active source
is the story that Cardinal Pecci was not liked
by Pins X, who withheld for seven years
the hat that had been given him by Gregory
XVI, and that he was practically banished to
his diocese of Perugia, instead of being in
vited to grace the Roman court. The truth is.
as to the first tale, that he was not created
in pctto by Gregory, but his elevation to the
purple was an original act of Plus himself; and
as TO the second, that all cardinals who have
sees are expected, except under special cir
cumstances, to reside at them. Cardinal Pecci
was a good bishop, and he lived with his
flock. Plus k, when bishop of lmola. did
the same. Indeed, the late Pope gave the
strongest proof of his confidence in the man
who has now succeeded him, when he ap
pointed him, last September, Chamberlain of
the Holy Roman Church. to govern during the
interregnum-a Office so important in its in
fuence upon the character of the next reign
tne luCuinDcut VI IL 10 poPuioiiJ
the "POpe- maker"
If any augury could be drawn from the re-
lations between the late pOntif and the pres
ent one, it would be that the policy of the
Holy See is not to be materially changed
There seems to be an expectation that the new
Pope will prove moderate" in his dealings
with the European Powers, and that he will
prepare the way especially for reconciliation
with the kingdom of Italy. That change
must come sooner or later in the respective
attitudes of Church and State in Italy
and Germany admits of little doubt, but that
the new Pope will make any important con-
cessions or surrender any of the claims OF the
papacy seems to us highly Improbable. The
position of the church was too firmly settled
by Plus TX. to be easily changed, and the policy
of Italy is at the present time more aggrcs-
sively anti Catholic than it has ever been be-
FORE 1t appears to us that the reign oil
Leo XIII. IS to be one of transition, which
will perhaps witness gradual ameliOratiOn of
the distresses of the Church, but is almost as
likely to see them aggravated. He comes to
the throne at all events untrammelled. He
has had no part in the political affairs of the
Holy See. He has lived for many years in
a pastoral f6tlTcIutUt. llt 10 suppoS'u w NC
ready to accept the inevitable, and make the best
of it. He is certainly not Objectionable to the
secular powers, although he is by no means
Liberal in politics. All the ministers of the
late pontiff retire. according to established Gus
tom, and the new ruler can choose new cOun-
sellers without embarrassment, and with
out the fear of miscOnstructiOn. He IS
an old man, but old age BELTS a
pope, and many pontiff who has come
TO the throne at a still more advanced
period of life has been spared long enough in
the chair to leave name in history. To
faithful Catholics, whose affections have been
drawn to the Roman See i'll a very special
manner during the last painful years of
tho good, gentle and generous Plus, the
choice of head of the Church will
be an occasion of cOngratulati0n and
triumph, and their satisfaction to-day will be
all the greater when they learn that the new
Leo is likely to emulate the personal virtues
of his predecessor. But to those outside the
pale of the faith, who consider the tribula-
tons and responsibilities which are imposed
with the tiara in these times, Gioacchno