The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-03-02
WHO THE NEW POPE Is.
A Man who is more than fitted to he the good
Plus Sinth's Successor.

| Gioacchlmo Pcccl, now Pope Leo MIL, wa,
born at Carpmcto near Anagni, March ,, lSlO
and is therefore within fortnight of his slAly
eighth birthday. lie comes of an old palrl
clan family, Il circumstance only notable De
cause the college which elected him contains
SO many men Of very humble birh elevated tt
the purple by Pope Plus. Gregory XVI. took
a strong liking to PcCci in his youth and intro
.duced him into the Papal household a~ d
chaplain and private rcicrcndary; further
sending the young prelatc rs his delegate IN
succession 10 Bcncycnto SpOlctO and Pcruga
where he did good service in Kidding the people
Iot the scourgc Of brgandagc. PcccI was next
sent is NGnCio to the COul' Of 'n'riUu where
he 50 layorably impressed aAc. aj.d.e OF
men, King Leopold L., that tLc \iDg asked
ESPECIALLY for his elevation to the Cardinalatc
Gregory XVI, on his return from Brussels
made him Archbishop of Pcrugia, and rcscry
ed the young Archbishop In pctto, but in lS4C
Pope Gregory died and it was seven years be
fore Pccci received the hat most unusual
delay. The King of the Bclgians often renewed
his GOOD offices in the interval, but Altonclll
was all-powcriul at the Vatican, and Justly
measuring the Archbishop of Pcrugas ca
Ipaclty, the Cardinal Secretary Of State was
Unwilling to advance so gifted IA rival to a
the Popc's mind. Though at last on the 18th
Iof December, 1868, Pccci was raised to the Car
'dinalate, AntOncli succeeded in keeping him
for more than twenty years secluded in his
archdiocese When, in 1874, Cardinal Barna-
bo, Project of the Propaganda, died, Pecci was
urged for the place, because" said prclatc
to the Pope, "he is so learned man and so
good Bishop Just So" broke in tie Pope,
with his faint smile Of gentle malice, and be
cause he is so excellent bishopw we VII leave
him to take care of his diocese" When at the
close of 1876 death removed Antonclli from his
path PecC'S turn at last came, and lie death
of Cardinal NanniCell- CaSoni, Pro-Datario,
followed shortly afterwards, he went T. Rome
and took up his quarters in the FaIconicr
Palace, being confident, apparently, OF the APP
polntment 1t was, however, conferred on
Cardinal SaCCOni, and il was not until the end
of last September that Pecci obtained Il real
promotion. Pope Plus TX. then made him
Cardinal CamcrlcngO, as the successor of the
Cardinal De Angels. THIS might
be regarded as a Greek gift, to be feared, since
he traditions of the COnClaveS have hitherto
been that no Camcrlcngo ever becomes Pope,
ust as in recent American politics an election
o the Vice Presidency has been supposed tot
iestroy the siatesmans chances for the Prcsi-
lency Indeed, at the time of the appointment,
t was considered equivalent To putting PcCclI
)ut of the race; his rival, Cardinal Panebian-
%, was congratulated on having had such "a
narrow escape" from promotion; the Roman
correspondent Of the lHd,p cHd01ce Btice wrote Il
Cardinal PccCi, who had some chance Of be
ny the candidate of the Liberal group is grave
Y compromised by his acceptance OF the office
If CamcrlcngO," while the correspondent of thcI
london Times sOrcly puzzled, wrote: His APP
continent was one of the wisest acts of PiusI
KS pontificatc, unless it was suggested by al
wish to exclude him, rs a Liberal from thel
'apaCy; a CamerlcnEo hardly ever having a.
nance of securing the votes of the COnclave."
he Cardinal Camcrlengo, itmust be observed, |
cprcscntS the ancient vcstiarus or steward of
he property Of the church. Within his attri-
utes originally fell whatever even remotely
Duched the interests of the Papal Eychequer,
While he had jurisdiction also over secular
asses in the city and coma.ca of Rome. of
curse, therefore, his Office constantly brought
i'm into disagrccable relations with other dig
itaries: and as he becomes, on the death of Il |
Pope, the first parsonage in the Papal state he
nay usually expect to see all the other person
ges of the state combine to prevent his tenn
'orary supremacy from ripcning into pcrma-
cncy. 1t is possible, however, that the APP
really helped Cardinal PcCci, since
he Pope was dying and naturally would del
ire TO leave the presidency of the Church dur
NJ the intcrrcgnum in good hands; again, the
'ardnal Camcrlcngo had held his dangerous
flee for so short time, and was, thanks to-
lntonclli's jealousy, so complete a stranger in
rome that he had had but little opportunity to
lake enemies in his own order.
Pope Leo MIL Is a tall, thin, but wcll-pro-
man, with fincly-lormed head, a.
)rchcad narrowing like that of Louis Philippe
t the temples and regular features. He bears
No signs of liberal nature in large, we'll
hapcd mouth and wcl-tormcd ears. His cX-
rcSsiOn is frank and open, though u haltiron-
al smile plays constantly about his lips, and
is glance indicates both kccnncss of intellect
nd good deal of innate pride and hduteur.
in letter to the London
lines, describes HIM as resembling Consalvi,
he Rchclieu ofthe Papacy under Plus VII,
'ho deprived the Cardinals of most OF their
lfucncc. His bearing ir public is digniied
nd stately almost to austcrity; and his voice,
lille it lacks the winning sweetness of that Of
'ius IN, is full, strong and impressive. I'M
rivate life his manners are simple and uAas-
lming, as are also his personal tastes He is |
vely in temper and of II very kindly DISPOSE
on ana quite rs iona OF clever piece oil Wit
5 his predecessor Morallyand intellectually,
$ we'll rs physically, he is admirably equipped
II his great office "lIc is, IS writes one author
Y, "a man of blamclcsS character, sincerely
1ligious, wellvcrsed IN church matters and of
Moderate opinions" They give him credit,
,ys another, for Il deep knowledge of the
,orld and great dcXtcrity in the management
f affairs" Signor Bought one of the best
'rtcrs and most profound thinkers of Italy,
l his remarkable book, Pho Mono cd il Papa
uturo," first published in 1872 and reproduce
/ last November, included Pecci in his list
f seven Pop0LHe or persons eligible for the
apaCy Bought did not consider his ap-
rs Cardinal amcrIcngoa IN absolute
and 50 strongly impressed was
lc French correspondent at Rome of the Lon
on Times already alluded 10 by the minis
II of Public Instructions ANALYSIS that he
rOtc:
Everything considered, if rational councils
re- at all likely 10 prevail in the next Conclavr,
the Italians have the upper hand in it, and
lc dignity of Camcrlcngo is not an insur-
,,un,ahl,. stumblinU blp,L Ia. man \Vhol