The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-05
CAREER OF The NEW POPE
HIS HAS BEEN THE LIFE OF THE
&c.,. PARISH PRIEST.
Advancing Steadily From the Care OF a
village to That OF the whole Church
"A scholar Of simple, Abst eriious Ways
8, --Me Looks Like Archbishop Farley.

the name OF P1uS e, as the z04th successor
of st. Peter. was born at REESE village in
the diocese of Treviso, north Of Venice,
on June 2, 1885. He is consequently 90
years and 2 months old little older than
was Leo XIII. at his accession.
He studied in the seminaries of Treviso
and Padua and was ordained priest in
Castelfranco in 1858. For many years
he performed the ordinary duties of parish
priest in several parts Of the Venetian
territory, which was then under Austrian
domination.
1t was not till 1875 that he was employed
in subordinate diocesan offices in the diocese
Of Treviso. In 1884 he was made Bishop
Of Mantua by Pope Leo, who, in the consis-
tory OF June IL. 1893, created him Cardinal,
and three days later appointed him Pa
triarch of Venice. He was Cardinal Priest
of the title of San Bernardo allie Terme.
Cardinal Sarto's appointment as Patriarch
gave rise to an animated dispute with the
Italian Government, nineteenth century
revival Of the question Of investiture. The
Government claimed the right, as the Sue
cessor Of the Republic of Venice, to nomi-
nate the Patriarch, while the Holy See
denied the right. The Government finally
granted Cardinal Sarto the exequatur.
In his office he has done all things that
were Bishop-like and proved himself
strong and competent administrator. He
has reformed the abuses that had crept
in among the clergy and in the performance
Of divine service. Among other things
he insisted on the reading of the Gospel
lessons and on having them explained
in Italian to the people
He also encouraged the restoration Of
the Gregorian chant in the church service,
and was one OF the first to discover Dom
Perosi He is venerated in his diocese as
a sanity man whose whole life is given
to the care of his flock.
Cardinal Sarto's whole career has, there
fore, been that Of a parish priest who has
risen to be Bishop and then Archbishop.
He has had none OF the diplomatic or court
experience of the ex-Nuncios and Cardinals
of the Curia, who make up the bulk Of the
Roman Cardinals-those whose names
have been mentioned most frequently as
candidates. like Rampolla and vanrutelli.
He is, moreover, priest and not monk
or other regular, like Gotti, a fact that
may well have had weight in the election,
on account of the acute state which the
question Of the religious orders has reached
in France and other strongly Catholic
countries.
Cardinal Sarto's relat ions with the Italian
Government were always extremely friend
", in spite of the difficulties made about
recognizing him He was looked upon
az a Liberal. but his love for Italy was
probably due to his being Venetian who
OF Italy had become united he may be-
come more conservative as Pope, but his
attitude has been such az to warrant hopes
of Cancellation and peace, 80 far as the con-
Trajectory positions of Vatican and Quirinal
in Rome will permit.
The Pope is of humble origin, but his
family for generations has been noted for
its fervent piety. His grandfather, Leone |
Saro, was a soldier in the Papal Army /,
under Gregory XVI. His mother was
noted for her charitable works and great |
faith.
When Giuseppe Sarto was years old, |
his mother took him TO the city of Trevso |
on pilgrimage, and there made a novena |
that the legend that every soldier of the |
Pope's army gives to holy orders at least !
one child should be fulfilled in her boy.
After his ordination he received his first |
appointment as assistant priest at the |
Church Of San Rafael in a small village |
from November, 1858, until May, 1857. !
The Vicar-General promoted him to the |
passionate of st. Peters Church in Salcano, |
where he remained from May, 1857, until |
March, 1875.
While at Salcano Father Sarto established |
a conference Of st. Vincent de Paul, which |
il a charitable organization aiming to up
lift the destitute. As his rank increased |
he became more enthusiastic in this work
He has probably done more TO spread the
work Of the st. Vincent de Paul fraternity |
throughout Italy than any other prelate.
In 1875 Father Sarto was selected chan |
cellor of the Salcano diocese, spiritual di-
rector of the Salcano Theological Seminary
and examiner Of the clergy. In 1875 he
was made judge of the ecclesiastical tri-
bunal Of the same diocese. In 1877 the
Bishop conferred the highest office in the
diocese upon him, the vicarate capitulare.
1t was while administering the affairs of
the Sacano diocese that he began the col
lection of what has since developed into one
Of the fnV-t private Libraries in Venice.
Leo XIII. and his successor. Sarto, met
for the first time during the latter's resi-
dence at Salcano. The late Pontiff con-
ceived an admiration for the Vicar-Genera,
the fame Of whose aesthetic tastes had
reached Rome.
During the nine years of his reign at
Mantua, Bishop Sarto led a life 20 abstemi-
GUS as that of his poorest parish priest II
was often said of him that the poorest man
or most unfortunate woman could approach
him for advice or aid. Denying himself
all social amusements, he devoted many
hours during each day TO scholarly applica-
ton. In 1880 he wrote several learned
treatises on the authenticity Of relics of the
martyrs. He also prepared manual Of
prayer, which has since been adopted in a
number ~ Italian provinces. He wrote a |
number OF poems dedicated to the Ma
donna
Unlike his predecessors. Sarto, as Pa !
triarch OF Venice, mingled freely. with the |
poor of his jurisdiction. He had an hour |
each morning in which tn, lowly might |
approach him and tell their grievances.
When he appeared in public, children |
focl1ed around him and il is said that many |
times he has carried an afflicted child in |
his arms through the crowded thorough !
fares. The gold chain Of the pectoral |
cross and the episcopal ring were the only |
evidences of his high rank.
Walking one afternoon, he met a poor
woman with n child in her arms, seeking |
aid. Stopping to question her he learned /
the pitiful story of her fall and OF efforts |
to secure employment. The Patriarch, |
after giving her substantial aid, added these |
comforting words: "All mothers are good, !
and no queen is greater than good mother I,
The Patriarchate of Venice has always |
carried with 1t the additional honor OF Car |
dinal In 1903 Leo Kill, at the fall con-
sist ory, bestowed the red robe on the Patri- |
arch The ceremony Of the elevation TO
the clria Of Bishop Sarto was one of the
most memorable events in the history Of |
the Church in Venice In addition to the |
nobility and the foreign diplomats multi |