Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27

rulers whom they serve dignitaries Of the
Church coming to render homage to their
chief on this, the Jubilee, that most peo-
pie believe win be the last great celebra-
ton Of the Pope's long reign; prelates,
mighty and humble; they compose a
mighty procession that is pressing toward
Rome from all quarters to congratulate
the man upon whom the attention of the
world is concentrated this year. as last
year it was upon the Queen of the British
empire.
POPE LEO XIII. AS PONTIFF.
Leo Kill was born at Capineto, in one
Of the Papal States, March 2, 1910. His
name is Joachim Vincent Count Pecci.
He comes of a noble family, and has been
highly educated. He looks every inch
the man who should be at the head of a
great religious order. AS he officiates in
the big basilica or in the Sixtine chapel
he seems like a being who belongs to the
world of ethereal things Thin and pale,
with piercing eyes, the ascetic life he has
led gives him the appearance Of being
chiselled out OF marble.
White and old as he looks, however,
there is magnetism about the man that
inspires respect, almost awe, and makes
| one wonder how a man so old and so
much like the statues that are around
: him can possess the remarkable vitality
| that is shown in every movement Of the
| tall form.
If you are fortunate enough to secure an
| audience with him you will find that Leo
| XIII. is one Of the best read men of the
/ day, and one Of the quickest to grasp the
| fine points Of an international question
| and be ready with q remedy for the evil
| that there is in 1t.
1t can truly be said that there are two
men in Leo XIII.-the theologian, absolute
| in his faith, and the Italian diplomat.
| On all observation-disclosures, social, politi-
| cal-he has shown mis- interest, and grasps
! them all with his tremendous activity.
His letters, protocols encyclcs on all the
| great questions of the day. are master
pieces. Two matters have especially at
| tracted his attention--the social and labor
problems and the maintenance of peace
in Europe. His dream is general dis
armament by all the great nations. He
deplores the armed peace, which costs
hundreds of millions every year.
Think" says Leo Kill, "of all the
good that could be done with this money,
or with only small part of it. Consider
that while the war of 1870 cost France
nearly six billion dollars, the SueZ Canal.
the Panama railroad, the Tunnel of Mont
Cents, and the Pacific railroad, these
great humanitarian works together have
| hardly cost five hundred million dollars"
In one of his speeches he said: "If
? there was ever time when the ideas of
peace answer to the desire of the people,
1t is undoubtedly now when the words of
fraternity, brotherhood, peacefulness, and
tranquility are on every mans lips. The
sovereigns and their ministers agree all
over the world TO declare that what they
wish and desire, that the continual object
! Of their efforts, is peace and concord. And
they are approved by all the people at
large, who have nothing but hate and re-
pulsion for wars and their consequences.
Such a repulsion is legitimate and holy,
for If war is sometimes necessary to
peace itself, 1t always carries along with
1t innumerable and terrible calamites.
/ And war would be at the present time
, much more horrible than it ever was,
favored as T. Is every day in its work OF
) destruction and progress in the art of
; killing by the variety, the precision, the
power Of both the fighters and the in
struments which they use'
Many believe that Leo XIII. will soon
call upon the sovereigns of the world to
, dsarm and TO form an international tribu-
nal TO which all discussions may be re-
, ferred.
The Pope has always taken the keenest
p interest in American affairs. and he has
again and again expressed his love and
admiration for this country. He is al
ways more than kind TO the Americans
who visit him.
HIS DAILY LIFE.
The august head Of the Roman Catholic
Church has undoubtedly exercised a most
remarkable influence on the history OF
the world during recent years. He Is In
many respects remarkable man, and
had he been born In the greater world
outside the Church he would doubtless
have taken his place In the sphere OF
life in which he found himself among
those who forge TO the front by Unborn
right OF leadership.
Leo XIII has preserved by unique
sobriety OF life--that sobriety commended
and described In his recent poem, "Ad
} Fabricium Rufum"-the vitality OF a
strong constitution. Some have written
that be comes OF stock Of mountaineers,