St. Paul daily globe., 1891-04-29
POPE LEo's ENCYCLICAL.
A Long Letter From the Great
Catholic Leader,

the New York Associated Press has had
an Interview with prominent digni-
tary of the Roman Catholic church re-
garding the forthcoming encyclical let
ter of Pope Leo XIII. on the social
question. This gentleman is especially
we'll qualified to give an opinion on the
subject, as he not only holds high &C.
clesiastical rank, but gave the pope
much assistance in drawing up the long
expected document. In reply to the
question, ''Is the encyclical ready?"
he said: Eyes, the pope has finished
it, but he has decided to wait
until the first of May is past
before giving it to the public.
The work of translating it into French,
Italian and German is also amost COM
pleted, although it will not be absolutely
ended till the day on which the date of
its publication Is definitely fixed. as the
pope has the habit of modifying his
writings by omissions or additions UP to
the very moment of publ cation"
what do you think # this encycli-
cal?''
at is the principal work of the pres
ent pontifcate, the synthetic resume of
of the pope. He has worked at it for
many years, sometimes for long periods,
without interruption. He has condensed
the doctrines Of the greatest doctors and
theologians on these matters, and
adapted them to the requirements and
conditions of the present epoch. He
has also brought into requiSition the
leading intellects of the United States
and of Europe. The incident of the
Knights of Labor and the generous In
terventiOn OF Archbishop Gibbons have
contributed in no small degree to eStab-
llSh and fix i'll the mind of Pope Leo
XIII. the definite form of his document,
which
Will Mark an Epoch
in the history of our times. His aim has
been to define the true doctrine and
soothe the minds of those who have
been hitherto undecided as to what side
to take in the present democratic move
ment; and he will succeed above all,
with the Catholics who in some coUn-
tries, especially in France and Belgium,
are far from being in unison in regard
to these points so important to
democratic life. The pope has
aimed at finding superior syn
thesis, fruitful unity of all
the various doctrines. He insists with
equity on the rights and duties of every
thing and of all, of@capital, of labor, of
the state, and of the individual. He is
utterly impartial, he is neither for nor
against any interest or any school. He
gives the truth, and proclalms justice
upon all and for all. One of the princi
pal ends that the pope has in view is to
furnish Catholics of all countries with
common ground of action. He greatly
deplOreS any divisions in the Catholic
party, tending as they do to diminish
the social influence and moral action OF
the church. He desires to deprive his
adversaries of the slightest preteXt for
pretending that the church has only
charity as her programme, and nothing
definite or precise to offer to society.
The schiSms which manifested them
selves at the congress of Liege, and also
in France, have profoundly grieved the
holy father. for they have diminished
the prestige of the church, and obscured
the social benefits wrought by the
church."
land the texts it adapted to pres
ent circumstancesY
"Perfectly. Leo XIII. always speaks
so as to be understood by every mind.
He has quite given up the ancient
ecclesiastical phraSeOlogy. His ideal
is to
Harmonic the Teachings
and traditional doctrines of the church
with all that is great, good and generous
in the social and intellectual currents of
our epoch. His nature is eminently
harmonious, sympathetic, conciliating
and pacific. / cannot tell you all that is
in the present encyclical. but | can say
that it Will make considerable impress
sion, for it is an enlightened work, aim
ing solely at unity and concillation. Dur
ing his labors of specifying the respect
i've position of capital and labor, of the
state and the individual. of bringing
into relief the strict justice and the in
flexible rights of all those factors that
go to make up society. industry and
work, Leo XIII. has seen the conflict
between all phases of human passions.
despotiSmS and revolutions. His en-
cyciical will not be cry of protest
against all these elements which form
modern life. He seeks to separate them
all by the acceptance of all legitimate
interests and by reciprocal respect of
all rights
Does not the pope speak of charity in
this encyclical?"
Yes; but he delimits its sphere of
action. He has devoted much space to
set forth its greatest claims; but his OBJ
ject, above all things, has been the
teaching of social Justice"
"What are the pope's views in regard
to state intervention?"
THAT is the delicate point. 1t is in
contestable that the church cannot give
upon these purely historical contingent
cies absolutely definite instructions.
The social problems are
Continually Changing
and modifying. Each period has its
particular needs. its own economic con-
ditions. Things that are good and
equitable to-day are old and inappli-
cable tomorrow. Therefore. Pope Leo
XIII. will be Efound. from: a doctrinal
point of view, somewhat preserved oh