The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-03-01
The Nelc Pope.

On the second day after entering upon
its work, the Conclave in the Vatican has
given to the Catholic world new Pope,
who, there is every reason to believe, COM
bines in himself all-the qualities that are
required for the position at this period OF
the Church history. To the place of the
highest importance and the greatest power
among the sons of men, Cardinal Pecci has
ascended as Leo XIII. But yesterday an
unobtrusive and austere member of the
Sacred College, to-day he stands in the
Vatican as the Vicar of Christ, the sue
cessor of St. Peter, the visible head of
the Catholic Church-wearing the crown
of Catbolicity, welding the sceptre of in
fallibiity, and carrying in his girdle the
keys OF the Kingdom of Heaven.
The new Pope is worthy to take the
place of Plus TX. Those who best know
his mind, his life, his talents, and his pow
ers, and who are best capable of Judging
his fitness to fill the pontfical throne, have
SO decided, All accounts agree in praising
him. He is described as a man who ia
many respects resembles the late Pope
full Of piety and zeal, of elevated mind of
great dignity, sociable, vivacious, and wit
ty. OF his learning, his familiarity with
ecclesiastical affairs, his comprehension of
the relations of the Church to the Govern
meuts of Europe, and of the policy to be
persuaded by the Vatican, there is, of
course, abundant assurance in the fact of
his election. He has been in the Cardin inal-
a'e for quarter of century, and he has
all the experience acquired in that posi-
ton. He has had other public experen-
ces, having been Nuncio at Brussels, and
having at ano,her time, as Papal delegate,
been active in suppressing brigandage in
several parts OF the States of the Church.
lie is spoken of as a practical and polite
man, with great knowledge of men and
great SIX i'll in dealing with them. In short,
in whatever way he is regarded, the Cath
olic world will feel assured shat Joachim
Pecci is qualified to sustain the grandeur
of the POpedom and the authority of the
Church. More beloved than the last Pope
he cannot be.
Politically, the new Pope belongs to
what is called tie moderate branch of the
Cardnals-thOugh it is not easy to tell
what this means or implies under present
circumstances. lie has been spoken of
since the death Of Plus TX. as one of the
two candidates upon whom the moderate
patty rested their hopes OF peace in the ad.
iustment of the relations between the Vat
lean and the Italian Government and the
other Governments Of Europe. But we
can see no ground for believing that he
Will turn his back on the policy of his
predecessor, or enter into any compromise
respecting the authoritative claims of the
chair of St. Peter. Whether or not he has
any hope of the restoration of the temporal
kingdom Of the Church in Rome, lie will
not surrender an iota of its ancient power.
The quickness with which the election
of the Pope followed the assemblage OF the
COuclave, puts an end to the accounts that
have been published of party antagonisms
and divisions among its members. He was
elected upon the morning of the second
day of the Couclave, and by the third bal
lot, which gave him the requisite majority
of two-thirds. This gives satisfactory evil
dence that the great body of the Conclave
regarded him, from the first, as the man
designated 10y Heaven to fill the position to
which he has been chosen, and in which
he VIII henceforth be known as Leo NH.
-Neo York Sun.