Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-18

His elevation to an episcopal see, the event
celebrated today, occurred in 1913, but previous
to this event nc had been sent by the supreme
pOntif as papal nuncio TO Belgium. King Leo
rod formed deep and lasting respect for
this quiet and courageous nuncio, who did not
hesitate to rebuke him for the infideiity and
language disrespectful to the church to which
he was addicted. In fact. the King OF the Bel
gians so much impressed by Monsig-
neur Pecci's candor and eioquence that at
the end of his mission he conferred upon
him the collar of knight of the Order of
Leopold. While the future pope was
clio in Brussels Charles Lever, the famous Dub
lin journalist and novelist, represented the
throne Of Great Britain at that capital, and. it
is stated, entertained her majesty, Queen Vic
toria, during her visit at the embassy. 1t was
at q state dinner at the embassy that she first
met Monsigneur Pecci and became charmed
with his conversation Since then St. james
and the Vatican have always been on the most
friendly terms.
At that time he was created archbishop of
Damietta in patrius infideiium to qualify him
for the post of nuncio.
On his return he was nominated bishop of
Perngia on January 10. 1916, about four months
before the death of Pope Gregory XVI He
was created cardinal by Plus X in the con-
slstory of December 10. 1858. He was a mem
Der OF several congregations Of cardinals.
among them those of the council of rites and OF
bishops and regulars. In September, 1877. he
was sciecteu DE tue pope 10 I'LL the important
Office of cardinal camerlengo of the Roman
Church. which post had become vacant by the
death of Cardinal lie Angels
THE DEATH OF Plus k
On February :, 1878, Pope Plus TX died of
pulmonary paralysis. 1t not until Cardi-
nal Bilio was summoned by one of the ply
sicians, DIR. Ceccarelli, that the word went
forth that the pope was dyiug," and it
not until the cardinal knelt and cried. "Dona
FL, Domino, requiem aternam" that the word
went forth, 1.-THE pore is dead" For Pho Mono
the evening had come. and that much-tried
pontit. of which Cardinal Newman has said
nations he tried to serve were calumny and
lngrsntude, had passed away.
1t devOlyed upon the camerlengo TO become
the ruler of the Vatican during the vacancy.
1t is his duty to confirm the death Of the pope
! after personal examination, and the ceremo-
MES on these occasions are particularly solemn.
T. ice on the forehead Of the dead pope the
cameriengo raps with a silver mallet and cali
ing him by name bids him arise from seep.
No answer coming from the cold form the an
nouncement is mace to the multitude ''The
pope is dead"
Wonderful is the long procession of popes to
which Roman Catholics point ! proof of the
unbroken continuity Of the line of st. Peter
The entire number of popes from the apostle
TO when the first vic.rate and the KEYS were
given to Leo XIII is 2sS. OF these nine
reigned less than a month thirty less than one
year, while but eleven have reigned more than
twenty years and but one. Plus TX, for twenty
five years. except ST. Peter. According to ira
di:ion. St. Peter ruled seven Years in Antioch
and twenty-five years, two months and seven
days In Rome, OF thirty-one years and seven
months in all OF all his successors Plus TX
alone seemed tC Violate the prediction "Annos
Petri non Nidebis'-..Thou shalt not see the
years OF Peter"-as the pastorate of st. Peter,
at Antioch, was really not part OF his pontifi-
cate at Rome.
THE ELECTION OF LEO XIII.
On February Z the cardinal camerlengo knelt
by the death bed of Plus XII The Office re-
quired him to arrange the funeral and the
fisherman ring in his keeping On Feb
ruary IS the conclsye assembled that was to
elect successor to the dead pontif. On these
occasions each cardinal ID escorted to a cell and
must fast in solitude until the conclave meets
again next morning. The camerlengo, ae-
companied by the senior cardinal of each
order, bishop, priest and deacon. proceeded to
the entrance Of the conclave and gave the KEYS
Of the outer door to the marshal himself keep
ing the keys OF the inner door. All other en-
tT~nces had been walled up. AT noon the first
ballot for the new pope took place by sealed
tickets. At 5 O'Clock the next day the
second ballot took place and on February 20
the third and last ballot showed forty-four
votes out of sixty-two in favor of Cardinal
Peeci. Cardinal Cardosi, patriarch of Lisbon
having arrived after the assembly of the con-
claye. had besn admitted. The moment the re-
suit Of the election was certain Cardinal Franci
the defeated competitor, at once threw himself
on his knees before the camerlengo, proclaiming
him pope and ASKING his blessing; example
! at once followed by the whole assembled college
Cardinal Pecci was thus, strictly speaking,
| elected by reclamation. or alteration. although
| not until every doubt of a legal majority had
Il UAh ala
] nal triumph for the moderate party in
the church. He was a very different kind of
| man from the aged and peace loving
Pius IL, and his rebuking words, a. am not
| P1us ~, soon came 10 be known to all the
| court fayorItes. On his election he declared
| that his name should be Leo XIII,"a sign
OF the clear determination that the new reign
should rnsa In q new era, and q rebuke to the ad-
visers that had openly limited that q new pope
should be Plus X" lie at once took the in
itlatiye and proceeded to the balcony whence
| he uttered the benediction to the waiting
crowd, after the oldest cardinal deacon. Cater
| mi, who died in 1881 had announced that the
most reverend lord, Joachim Pecci, was now
pope and had chosen the title of Leo Kill
| THE CORONATION.
The coronation took place in the Sistine
Chapel on Sunday, March 8, 1878. The pope
was carried on the scdia gestatoria from his
own apartments TO the chapel The cortegs
was headed by the famous Swiss guard and the
bearer Of the papal cross. Pope Leo was
| vested In red mozetta and surrounded by
the officers OF his household. In the hall OF
tapestries the pope was vested by two cardinal
deacons with his sacred robes. aud on his head
was placed inter of cloth Of gold. One
by one the cardinals rendered their ODE.
disnce by kissing his cheek, bishops kissed
his hand and presates his cheek only When
all was done aud the procession about to
move clerk Of the papA chapel, according
| to custom. brought handful Of FAX on Q gilded
rod to the master OF ceremonies. who burnt the
FAX In the presence Of the pontif, repeating at
| the same time in . solemn voice. holy Father,
thus passes away the glory Of the world" Then,
IN the papsl chapel. the new pope So. upon his
| throne and pontifical high mass was celebrated,
with the most splendid and artistic accessories.
At the conclusion the inter was removed from
the popes head and the triple crown placed on