The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-21
THE NEW POPE.
Leo XIII In the First Moments of his
Elevation.

Of the energy which distinguished
Pecci, both as delegate and bishop at
Spoleto and Perugia, he gave proof, as a
Camerlengo, as soon as Plus TX, upon
the removal of the cloud under which
the Archbishop of Perugia was in An
tonelli's lifetime, called him to Rome
and invested him with the important
office. / have already told you that the
determined and, rs his colleagues said,
"impetuous" manners of the Canerlengo
had struck dismay among the Vatican
functionaries accustomed to the extreme
leuieucy of the late Pontiff in his de-
clining years, and has raised against him
an outcry Of unpopularity during the va
cancy of the See which very nearly cost
him his chance of an election.
To several of the well-known courtiers
of Plus TX, Pecci very plainly intimated
that he would not put up with the liber-
ties they had been long allowed to take
with the supreme authority, and in a
signal instance, when the body of the
deceased Pontiff was being removed from
the death chamber to the Basilica, where
it was to lie in state, espying among the
few distinguished persons, whom ne had
allowed to attend the ceremony, one or
two ladies to whom he had given no
tickets, he summoned the master of the
ceremonies, upbraided him in very strong
terms for his presumption in departing
from his instructions, and before the very
body of Plus TX told him emphatically,
81 am not Pho Mono"
The clerical papers had predicted with
great assurance that the new Pope should
be Plus X, hint that the policy of the
new Pontifcate should be based on that
of the one which had just come to an
end. Pecci, upon his election, declared
that his name should be Leo XIII, a
clear determination that the new reign
should usher in a new era, being thus
conveyed in the mere choice of his name.
A few hours after his proclamation
when the Cardinals crowding round him
were silently watching his movements,
he suddenly rose and, without consulting
them, said, "Andiamo ALA loggia," and
proceeded to the balcony whence, accor-
ding to custom, a newly-elected Pontifi
is expected to give the benediction to the
multitude assembled on the piazza to
acclaim him. There is another balcony
looking out upon the church and front,
ing main altar. Had he chosen the outer
balcony the ice would have been broken,
and the accession of the new Pontifl
would have been attended by all the Ger,
emonies which surrounded the Papacy
before the tabled captivity which eclipsed
its lustre in the latter years of Plus IA
Leo XIII hesitated one moment. Fran
Chi, who had been by his side throughout
the election, and by his self-denial favor
ed Pecci's exaltation, whispered a few
words, and the Pope took his stand or
the inner balcony.
Both the church and the piazza were
already swarming with an immense mul
titude, but, when the Pope's mind wa
made manifest, there was great rush
through the doors, and a laundering ap
plause rose from that laboring mass
needless of the sacred locality. Little
accustomed to exhibitions of that nature
the Pope stretched out both hands II
allay the popular storm, and his voice
sonorous and authoritative as he pro
nounced his benediction WAS heard dis
tinctly by all the hushed and awed as
semblage.-London Times.