The times., 1898-02-22
THE LONGEST REIGN.
Leo XIII Begins His Twenty-First
Year as POntiff

Leo XIII Begins His Twenty-First
Year as POntiff.
Rome. Feb. 21.-Today Leo XIII enters
upon the twenty-first year of his papacy.
having reigned longer than any other
pontif in the entire history of the Roman
Catholic Church. and advantage may be
taken of the opportunity to draw atten-
ton to the Importance of his eventfuI
term When he succeeded to the tiara
the prestige of the Vatican was at a sin
gularly low ebb. The holy see was in
open conflict with Germany and with
Russia, in both of which countries the
leading Roman Catholic prelates were
imprisoned eXiled. With France the
relations were so strained that actually
the ministers of the day declared from
the rostrum of the chamber of deputies
that clericalism was the chief evil of the
country and the principal foe of the re-
public. The other nations of Europe had
become so wearied by the constant and
undignified complaints of Plus TX against
the Italian government that they had
ended by treating the protests OF the
holy see with polite Indifference and as a
bore, while the relations between the
Italian government and the papacy were
SuCli tHdI the committed all sorts
of arbitrary acts. and even threatened a
the time of the conclave to occupy the
Vatican with its troops unless it's wishes
were complied with with regard to the
election of the new pope.
Today the tables are turned II is the
Italian government which is craving the
support of the Vatican against the forces
of the revolution which threaten 10 en-
gulf the monarchy, the pope holding in
dc lr..r- 81 .s5.
through his power to send TO the polls
at least go per cent Of the entire electo-
rate, who have hitherto been kept from
taking part in any of the parliamentary
elections by his order Leo XIII can
send these 81 per cent Of the electorate 10
the polls either for the monarchy or in
support of republic. and thus has the
whip hand over the Italian government.
1t is probable that a far better under
standing exists between church and state
In Italy than people abroad realize. For
it must be borne III mind that any ap-
pearance of an alliance between church
and state In Italy would inevitably impair
the power and influence of the Vatican
abroad, and ar the same time diminish
ITS resources. The latter are chiefly de-
rived from foreign contributions which :
are subscribed abroad under the impress
sion that the pope is subjected to per
secution. Were the contrary to be known
there would no longer be any reason for
this financial form of sympathy, and IL is
a Significant fact that the subscriptions
from abroad have always been the largest
when the relations between church and
state here have seemed at their worst
while as soon there was an appearance
of more friendly relations between the
Vatican and the quirinal the contributions
have notably declined.
Then. too. there is no doubt that for
eign governments and even the foreign
clergy would be less obedient to the or
ders of the pope were they to believe for
one moment that he was Influenced by
the Italian government or even by the
considerations which might appeal To him
as a patriotic Italian. For while foreign
Catholics are ready to accept the SUI
premacy of an italian pope in matters
ecclesiastical. they are extremely alive to
the danger OF his spiritual supremacy and
influence being utilized for the further
ance OF ordinary Italian politics abroad
This in itself viii show how extremely
careful the pope has been in steering the
Dapacy midway between a war on the
quirinai leading to reprisals and peace
with the Vatican government which
would impair the power of the holy see
abroad
never b.
dOned his claims for the restoration Of
power has never relegated them
to the background and devoted his entire
70 the development of the NOR
al power and influence OF the holy see.
And in this he has succeeded to an as
degree. as will be realized by
comparing foreign relations of the Vati-
can today TO what they were when he be-
came pope. He has not only made peace
nv hTrt hos 1T
greatest military power of Europe to the
position OF a petitioner. asking for his
support in It's internal affairs. For with |
out the support of the pope the kaiser
would never have obtained the passage
through the reichstag either of his mill |
tary seDtennate bill or of his naval pro- |
gram. the emperor in return having |
not only consented to the return TO Ger |
many OF eXiled religious orders and now
Of the Jesuits. but likewise undertaking |
TO present 10 the Catholic Church the |
Coenaculum. or building at Jerusalem in /
which the Last Supper took place. and |
which has been given to him by the sui
tan-a building to obtain possession of |
which Russia went to war with Turkey
N 1854.
Leo XIII has likewise re-established
friendly relations with Russia. The cath
Dlic bishops and clergy have been recalled
from exile and restored to their sees. In
Spain il is admittedly the support of the
holy father that keeps little King Alfonso
Dn the throne and the Carlists at bay. |
and the same may be said with regard to
King Charles of Portugal. In France the
church is today hand in glove with the
republic. which latter owes 10 Leo XIII.
ieep debt of gratitude for having with |
irawn the support of the French clergy
rom the monarchical cause and trans
erred it to the existing regime. In the |
Netherlands. formerly the home of the
Catholicism has developed to I
such degree within the last twenty
ears under Leo's guidance that today
he majority of the council of guardians |
# the young queen are members of the |
'hurch of Rome In England. too. all |
'ld-time pTejudiceS with regard TO pop
ry seem to have disappeared. the govern-
nent being about TO build u Roman Cath
lie university in Ireland. while state and |
Ociety accord to Cardinal Vaughn the
'athOlic metropolitan. ti:e same honrs !
md regard as to- the prImate of the
'hurch of England.
Above all Is Leo NIL. entitled to admit !
alton by his endeavors to keep his |
hurch abreast of modern progress and |