Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-28
POVERTY OF THE POPE.
Peters Pence on the Wane for Four
Years.
Proposed New Plans for Raising
Funds-Leo XIII. Spends for His
Table One Franc a Day-Needs of
the Papacy.
Correspondence New York Sun.

Rome, February 2.-"Energy and a
heap of riches" constitute, according
to SiXtus ", the indispensable elements
of a good government. Ey energy he
meant public order, and by riches, or
der in finance. Thanks to that regime
Of severity, he re-established in his
States, with respect for the law, the
authority of TIE Sovereign Pontificate.
By dint of accommodating millions he be-
came in a short time one of the richest
princes of Europe, if it be true that the
richest must be regarded as the one
who, with more facility than any other,
disposes of the money necessary for the
eXigencies Of the realization Of the pro-
jects that he cOntemplates. BY that
financial discipline, SiXtus V. was one
of the masters Of his epoch, in spite Of
the neighborhood of Phillip H., whose
Golfers were always empty, and in
spite of the gOod-natured genius Of
Henry ", whose BOurbOnian aYarice
was proverbial.
Leo XII. constantly keeps in his in
most thoughts the example Of the Ital-
ian Good Shepherd. Belonging to a
race Of country noblemen he lived for a
long time as a cardinal at the rate Of
three lire a day, and since he dOnned the
tira he spends una Ira for mis- table, as
he boosted to Vienna count. The
same economy rules the budget Of the
central administration Of the church.
He is not in the habit of lavishing gold
for his family or for his employees. OF
the Popes who cultivated nepOtism. he
knows only the names, and he de-
spises their conduct. But, although he
obeys the laws of the most strict fru-
gslity, like Sixtus ", he is large heart
ed, prodigal, magnanimous, and gener-
Gus in the extreme when he under
takes historical labOrs. Roman schools
educational institutions, missions, the
establishment of native seminarleS IN
the East, the founding OF colleges,
works for the union Of churches, ana
the creation of international relglOus
houses in Rome. are the objects of his
most generous care. Economical as a
man and as a Pope, he is generous as
a creator. a founder, and an organizer.
He has an antique soul. He is a Ro-
man Of the days of both Numa and Au-
gustus. Ii his hand is close, his mag
ination is widely open.
-Four years now Leo. XIII. has been
uneasy in regard 10 st. Peters penny.
The Papacv spends annually from sew
en- to eight millions of lire to keep up
its governmental functions, apostolical
palaces. churches, congregations, nun
ciatures, etc. Up to the present time
these expenses have balanced with the
receipts. The Catholic world, Ey its
donations. have regularly supplied its
needs since Margatti Of the Unita Cat
tolica. established the free and gener-
ous contribution Of st. Peters penny.
Ru+ that river Of money which from
+be provinces flows toward the can'tal
seems to be drying up gradually. ne
adversaries Of Leo. XIII. blame him Tor
il. declaring that his reign, less popu-
lar than the Pontificate or Plus TX, Is
the cause of this regrettable diminu-
tion. This criticism is perhaps I'M
inst and partial If the ordinary re-
sources of the Papacy appear to have
diminished. the Pope holds an extra
ordinary metallic reserve. While Plus
TX. a magnanimous and multiform
Maecenas. spent money lavishly. Leo
NIL. following the example OF SiXtus
Y has accumulated the donations or
the Jubilee in the permanent Ponthcial
treasury, in order that in a period or
eventful crisis, the Vatican might be
abIe without let or hindrance, TO cross