The age-herald., 1898-09-25
The Wealth of Pope Leo XIII

him, however, the pope has retained for himself some of the most precious. These include the colossal diamond just received from President Kruger; the ruby and dia- mond ring presented by the sultan of Tur- key ten years ago, and reputed to be the most valuable ring in the world S100,00 the diamond cross received this year from the Catholics in the United States, made in New York, at the cost of $20,000; the pee toral cross, with massive diamond, sent by Queen Victoria; gold and jeweed chaliee from the queen of Spain; a toilet service studded with precious stones, from the shah of Persia; four jeweled rings from the khedive; tokens of greater or less intrinsic value from the emperors of China and Ja- pan. from the president of the United States, of the Souh and Central American republics and of Mexico, from the princes of India. and even from the chiefs of the South Sea islands. The value of the ob- jects which the pontiff has retained for himself Is estimated at $900 900. Besides this, account must be taken of the gifts of money made to his holiness. The jubilee presents of specia amount to slightly over $3,OO0OOO. The ordinary income of gold is accounted for as legaces and as gifts of the faithful The legaces for the past ten years Qncludng the Paris property of the Countess de Plesslere) has averaged $1,- 900 annually. The subscriptions of the faithful. or Peters pence, has averaged nearly $2,000,0 GOO a year. All this latter sum, however, does not go to the popes private purse. The apostolic prescriptions arrange that the Peters pence should be divided into three parts-one for the pontff himself another for the cardinals of the Curia, and a third for the poor clergy. But owing to the abnormal position of the pope since the loss of the temporal power, the entire Peters pence is paid over to him for ad- ministrating. The poor clergy are to 0 great extent provided for by the Italian state, almost all the resident cardinals are supported by the sacred congregations, and the pope has consequently only to provide for the expenses of the vatican. These are roughly estimated at $1, ,600 900 year. Sum- ming all together, and deducting the large sums which at Christmas, Easter and Au- gust 15, the pope distributes to the poor of Rome and other large cities of Italy (some $S0o,O00 annually), one may aggregate tho pope's personal wealth at about $20 COG. 900.
 The vatican. the largest palace In the world. contains over Il 900 rooms, the ma jorlty of them furnished with much magni- ficence. The vatican library holds 0.000 volumes. some of them of great value, the CodeX Vatlcanus in itself being worth nearly $100,000 The portrait gallery Is flg- ured at 5000 GOO. The gallery of oil paint ings-including as it does the finest oil pic- lures in the world, the Transfguration and Madonna of Foligno, by Raphael, and the
 
 is worth $14000, 000 The museum of sculp- lures has never been definitely valued. It is considered almost priceless. The Apollo Belvedere, the Laocoon, the Venus of Milo and the bust of the young Augustus are few from it's long list of unrivaled master pieces. The collection of medals and an- cient coins represent the modest sum of $540,000 The pontlfcial stables contain fifty thoroughbred horses. and the collec- ton of gilded and artistic state chariots which had been used by the predecessors of Leo XIII for centuries back, could be pur- lchased--.-anlx--sMith an immense sum of money. In the matter of unclassified ob- l jects of art, porcelain, curios of gold, sil- yer, bronze and other metals, collection exists valued at $4500,000. The finely 5rrtrsrIraffy Scu1ptured furnl- ture of the immense palace oaks, mahogan- ies, ebonies, etc., would sell for $3400, 900.
 Besides the vatican, the pope owns cas- ties, houses, convents, monasteres and col- leges to the number of aboupt 2,5OO; as well as some 30, eco acres of forest and arabic land. The revenue from these. however, as from the other standing property of the church, is never arrogated to the pope's private purse. It is calculated that the en- tire real estate of the church in Italy which it must be remembered includes St. John Lateran's, St. Mary Majors and other sumptuous bascilicas-is worth the sum of s423 900.