The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-01
POPE LEO XIII ON COLUMBUS
His Holiness Says Christopher Discov-
cred Us to Convert the Savages.
Practically Takes All Praise from Columbus
the Genius and Bestows IL on Columbus
the Religio-Fanst:c and Catholic.

CApIz. July 80. The Christopher Column
bus celebration was formally begun to-day
by the departure for Huelvia of the CO.
lumbus caravel Santa Maria. lowed by the
Pie Lago. and escorted by the British
cruiser Scout. the French cruiser Haron-
dele. several Spanish war ships and TO-
tilla of small steamers The spectacle pre-
sented was magnificent. The quaint as
poet OF the old Columbus vessel twas In
strong contrast with the appearance OF the
modern vessels An enormous crowd OF
people lined the quays and ramparts to
witness the departure. The man-ot-war
Lepanto saluted the caravel as she passed
out of the harbor. A brilliant company
gathered 1T a fete given by the Minister of
Marine in honor of the event. A bull fight
was also held Tue following is the text of
the letter addressed by Leo XIII, Pope by
Divine providence" TO the archbishops
and bishops of Spain. Italy and the two
Americas on the subject of the Christopher
Columbus celebration. 1t reads:
Venerable Brothers greeting and apos-
toiic benedicIion-From the end or the
fourth century. since a man from Llguria
first landed under the auspices OF Goc, on
the transatlantic shores, humanity mas
been strongly inclined to celebrate win
1t would not be an easy matter TO ind
more worthy cause to touch their hearts
and to inflame their zeal. AS to him who
accomplished it. there are few who can ne
compared ID greatness of soul and genine.
BY his WORK new world flashed forth
from the UNEMPLOYED ocean, thousands uDon
thousands of mortals were returned TO tue
common society of the human race, led
from their barbarous life to peacefulness
and civilization, and. which ia OF much
more Importance, recalled from perdltIon
to eternal life by the bestowal of the gifts
vniah Jesus Christ brought to the world
EUROPE FINALLY UNDERSTOOD.
Europe astonished alike by the prodi-
eiousness of this event, understood little by
little in due course of time what she owed
to Columbus. Therefore 1t would not be
fitting that the church should maintain
complete silence. since, In accordance with
her character and her institutions, she
willingly approves and endeavors to favor
all that appears. wherever it H. to be
worthy OF honor and praise. It's her habit
TO favor with her power. and always nave
in honor those who have we'll merited OF
human society and have passed TO poster
ity. There is in addition an entirely spe.
cial reason for which we believe We should
commemorate in a grateful spirit this i'm
mortal event. IL Is that Columbus Is one
OF .. IS- ,,. oon.,a.r. With WIN, motive
above all be undertook the plan of explor-
ing the dark sea. and with what object he
endeavOred to realize this plan. one cannot
doubt that the Catholic faith superlatlvely
inspired the enterprise and it's execution.
so that by this title also humanity Is not a
little indebted to the church. There are:
without doubt. many men OF hardwood
and full of experience who. before Christie
pher Columbus and after him, explored.
with persevering efforts, unknown lands
across seas still more unknown. Their
memory is celebrated. and Will be so by the
recollection of their good deeds, seein g
that they have extended the frontiers of
science aud of civilization, and that not at
the prlce OF slight efforts, but with a very
exalted ardor of spirit and often through
extreme perils 1t Is not the less true that
there is q very great difference between
them and him of whom we speak. The emf
nently distinctive point in Columbus IS
that In crossing the immense expanse5 OF
the ocean he followed an object more
grand and more elevated than the others.
This does not say. doubtless. that he was
not in any way influenced by the very
praIseworthy desire TO be master of science,
to well deserve the approval of society, or
that he deserved the glory. whose stimu-
liant Is ordinarily more sensitive TO elevated
minds, or that be was at all looking to his
personal interests.
RELIGION WAS UPPERMoST.
"But above all these human reasons that
of religion was uppermost by q great deal
In him, and it was this. without any doubt,
which sustained his spirit and his will. and
which frequently, in the midst of extreme
difficulties. filled him with consolation.
He learned in realty that his plan his reso-
luton. profoundly carved in his heart, was
to open access to the gospel In new lands
and,in new seas. This may seem hardly
probable to those who concentrating all
their care, ali their thoughts, in present
things refuse to look upon greater bene-
fits. But on the other hand il is the char
acteristic of eminent minds to prefer to
elevate themselves higher for they are bet
ter disposed than all others to seize the
impulses and the inspirations of the divine
faith. Certainly Columbus bad united the
study of nature to religion. and he had CON-
formed his mind to the precepts intimately
drawn from the Catholic faith. 1t Is thus
that he learned by astronomy and ancient
documents that beyond the limits of the
known world there were in addition toward
the west, vast tracts of territory unexplored
mp To that time by nyb0dy. He considered
the immense multitude of those who were
plunged In lamentable darkness subject To
iDsensate rites and to the superstltions of
senseless divinIties. Thus. in considering
he aimed first of all to propagate the name
OF Christian and the dement's of Christian
charity in the west As a matter of fact.
as soon as he presented himself to the SOW
ereigns of Spain-Ferdinand and lisa bella
ne explained the cause for which they were
not TO fear, that their glory would increase
TO the point of becoming immortal If they
decided 70 carry the name and doctrine of
Jesus Christ into such distant nations.
And when not long afterwards, his pray
ers were granted, he called to witness that
he wished To obtain from God that these
sovereigns, sustained by His help and His
mercy, should persevere In causing the
gospel 10 penetrate on new shores and in
new lands
He conceived in the same manner the
plan of asking Alexander VI for apostolic
men by letter In which these words are
found: L hope that 1t will some dry be
given to me. with the help of God, to prop
agate affair the very holy name of Jesus
Christ and His gospel Also. one can i'm
agIDe him all filled with JOY when he wrote
to Raphael Sanchez the first who from the
Indies had returned To Lisbon. that 'ini-
mortal action of grace must be rendered to
God In that He had desi gned to cause co
prosper the enterprise 80 we'll, and that
jesus Christ could rejoice and triumph
upon earth and In heaven for the coming
salvation of innnmerable people who pre-.
yiously had been going 10 :heir ruin.'
Thus, If Columbus also asked of Ferdi-
nand and Isabella 10 permit only Catholic
Christians TO go to the new world, there &c
accelerate trade with the natives, he sup.
ported this motive by the fact that be
sought for nothing else than the glory and
DEVELOPMENT of the Christian religion.
THE VERY PIoUs ISABELLA.
This was what was perfectly known e
Isabella, who better than any other person
had penetrated the mind of such q great
man. Much more it appears that this same