The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-14
DEATH OF THE POPE.

On last Thursday afternoon, GloVanhi
Maria Mastai Ferretti, more widely
known as Pope Plus TX, closed his event
ful life, after having reigned longer than
any sovereign Of his time, and passed
through many Of the most portentous
events in the history of the Catholic
Church. He was born in Italy in 1872,
and during the earlier years Of his life
was troubled with epilepsy, which threat
eped to destroy his health and terminate
his existence in early manhood. He
was born of parents of high rank, and
was destined by his father for the army,
but fate is stronger than human DEGREES,
and his epileptic fits rendered him SO un-
ct for military duties that he was dis
charged sfrcm the army, and in 1914 be-
gan the study of theology, and was from
time to time advanced in minor orders,
until in 1919 he was advanced to the
Priesthood, in which position ne served
with distinguished ability, evincing great
moderation and tact, together with purity
of life and great charity. In 1927 he
was advanced to the Archbishcpric, and
continued 10 win the esteem and admira-
ton of his fellows for his temperate and
judicious use of his power, SO that in 1szO
he was made Cardinal during the reign
Of Gregory XVI, who was bigoted,
vindictive and narrow in his views and
actions. Upon the death of Gregory
XVI, in 1s4S, Giovanni Maria Mastai
Ferret; was chosen Pope by the Catholic
powers, and assumed the title Of Plus *,
and was, according to the Catholic reh-
gion, the two hundred and fifty-sixth
successor of ST. Peter. The new Pope
was the antipode of his predecessor.
Gentle in his manners, kind and sympa-
Itheic in, his feelings, pure and irre-
proachable in his private life, benevolent
and liberal in all of his actions, and de-
| voted to the faith to which he adhered,
PiusyIX was the best sovereign who ever
| ruled the Catholic Church: AS the
Chief Pontiff for over thirty years, he
greatly endeared himself to his church,
and gave The least possible ground for
personal enmity from any source. BE
entered upon his Papal duties as re-
former of the long practiced abuses, and
| was greatly welcomed by. the people, but
the influences Of the Republican zeal
which was rife in France seized upon
Italy, and resulted in such tumult, in
ls4s as to drive the Pope from Italy.
HE was, however, restored in 1850 by the
French armies. In 1860 the greater part
of the Papal territory was annexed to
| the kingdom ofSardinia by invasion, and
toe King Of Sardinia became King OF
tItaly. In 1S69-7O the celebrated ecu
menical Council proclaimed his spiritual
iinfallibility in the following dogma,
| which startledth balance of the Chris
tian world:
We teach and define that it is a dogma
ldiyinely:rerealed: that the Roman Pom
Itif, when he speaks ez cathedra-that IS,
when in discharge Of the Office Of pastor
and teacher of all Christians, by virtue
| of hissupreme apostolic authority he de-
fines doctrine regarding faith or morals
to he held by the Universal Church--is,
by the divine assistance promised to him
| ia Blessed Peter, possessed Of that infalli-
bility With which the divine Redeener
willed that his Church should be en-
dowed in defining doctrine regarding
faith or morals, and that therefore such
definitions of the Roman Pontiff are Of
themselves, and not from the consent OF
the Church, irreformable.
Almost while this doctrine was being
promulgated, the war of France and Ger
many withdrew the protection of the
French armies from the Pope, and tho
armies of Italy, under the late King Vic
Tor Emmanuel, occupied what was left OF
che Papal territory, and annexed it to
Italy. This occurred in 1870, and thus;
while the spiritual power of :Popery was
elevated to its acme, its temporal power
was entirely destroyed.
The death Of the Pope rendered neces-
cary the assembling Of the Cardinals,
which will take place in a few weeks, and
successor to the late Pope will be elec-
ted, There is no special political signif-
cance attached to the death of the late
Pope, and no national complications are
likelv To aris. from it.