Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-04-17
From the NeV York WOrM.)
A Portrait or the Present Pope,

"Le Pape Leon KILL, 50 vie, son
avenement, ses ecrits" is the title of a
recent book by the Able VIdieu, vicar
of Saint Roch and a member of the
Academy Of Rheims. bearing-the I'M
print of Plon, the well-known Ispub-
Usher. II is an intimate and exhaustive
work combining all thai the most Curl
Gus Catholic can desire to learn con-
cerning lis Holiness. aRd il is written
in . spirit which Is ell tlsz5 llse most de-
vout Catholic can ask. Il is dedicated
TO His Hoiiaess with a reverent fervor
which only Catholics Will be able Who'll
Iy to appreciate, perhaps, but from
which every one will be able 10 judge
at once of the tone of the work. The
Able begins with charming description
of the native country of the present Pope
and an account Of the PeccI family
The early studies Of Joachim PeccI and
his brilliant success at the Roman Col
lege and atthe Academy of Noble Eccle-
sIastics are narrated, and has life is then
followed from the beginning of his min
istry to the present time. Nothing IS
omitted that in any way relates TO his
career as priest, nuncio, archbishop,
cardinal and camerlengo. Minute des-
criptions are given OF the ceremonies
attending his elevation TO the Papacy.
The concluding chapters deal with the
modification made BY him IN the usages
and personnel of the Vatican, his re-
lations TO the press, the kingdom Of IT.
ally and to foreign governments, and a
general outline Of. his policy. II is,
however, of those portions Of the
Able VidIeu's book which relate to
matters not already matters of history
and recounted so often during the year
just passed that We design TO give our
readers some idea in a running para
phrase and summary-secrets of the
sacred Conclave which chose the Pope
last year heretofore not diyulged or only
incorrectly given, the writer says, and
the intimate personal lie of the Pom
tiff.
In the last conclave, says the Able,
the Sacred College was divided into
two parties--the ono, more ardent in
the defence Of principles audaciously
attacked in these days, believing that
the more truth is contested the more
important il is to affirm and uphold Il;
that each Pope, working for the future
as well as for The present. should con-
cede nothing, but stand firm prepared
to suffer, TO die IL necessary, before ac-
knowledging defeat. in order to accom-
pliSh the triumph Of his successors; The
other. equally immoVable in its couvic-
tons, as firm in its resolves but more
moderate in its expressions, believing
that prudence should be added to zeal
and that patience is mighty power
The frs contained men who had devoted
themselves 10 the study Of the sciences
and of theology. and who had become
more innexlble as they bad acquired
more certainty in their belieis. The
second comprised those who, having
lived more among men, had necessari-
ly more experience. The former saw
men as they should be, the latter as
they are. The FIRST, called ''the zealots'
by the Romans, were led by the Cardi-
nal Bilio: the second, called the moder-
ates, by Cardinal Pecei. Butt differ
ence between the two leaders was OF
small importance. The members Of the
Sacred College we're united on points
of doctrine and Of discipline. had one
common interest and were divided only
on the question Of expedieney, which
could occasion no serious discord. Each
Cardinal was prepared to renounce his
own preferences for the general good.
The three baIlotings, as given By the
Able Yidieu {the first one having been
thrown cut because Of irregularities In
form. are 40 follows: