The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-07-25
POPE LEo's LIFE WORK
Pontiff's Career In Brief From Birth
10 Present Time

Pontih's Career In Brief From Birth
TO Present Time.
His late holiness was born at Car
pineto, In the diocese of Anagni. in the
Papal States. on March 2, 1910; being
chrlstened in the name OF Joachim
Vincent. The Society OF Jesus which
1t was afterwards the first care OF his
uontifcate to restore TO its ancient EN
sltion IN the councils Of the church,
was entrusted with his education.
young Pecci being sent at the age OF
S years to the Jesuit College at Yiber-
DO. where he remained until his l4th
year. When he was Is years old he
secured the first prize for chemistry
and physics. His aptitude for natural
science, however. in no way interfer2d
with his taste for literature and clas-
steal studies, and even In those early
days he was resarkable for she ele-
gance and putty Of his Latin, which
subsequently found such notable eX-
preston not only in his encyclicals ana
ecclesiastical work. but In the hlsher
plane OF poetry. lie obtained In 1881
the degree OF doctor of divinity ana
entered the Academy Of Noble Eccle-
siastics to study law and diplomacy
and thus qualify himself for joining
what may be termed the papal dlplo-
matte service, and became conversant
with the system OF the spiritual gov
eminent.
in 1897 Joachim Pecci received the
sub-deaconate and diaconate. and on
March II OF the same year Gre
CORY XVI made him a domestic pre-
late, his first promotion. with the title
Of monsignor.
On December %, 1887, he was or
dained priest by Cardinal Odescalchi,
saying his first mass in the chapel OF
st. StanisIaus at the Jesuit Noyiciate
OF ST. Andrea. Early in 1898 Mgr.
Pecci was named governor OF the papal
province OF Benevento. and, like Six
tus v busted himself with the suppress
sion of brigandage.
The young ecclesastic. in 1913. was
called to exercise his talents in more
important post. being consecrated
bishop OF Damietta, in Partibus, and
sent to Brussels as papal nunclo. 1t
was as representative OF the Vatican
in the Belgian capital that he first
gained the political insight and expert
ence which have been one OF the prln-
cipal characteristics of his tenure OF
the pontlncal throne. Mgr Pecci re-
NAMED over three years In Belgium,
and on his recall to Italy was decorated
with the Grand Gordon Of the Order OF
Leopold.
After leaving Brussels the nuncio
paid a visit to London. This was in
February, 1916. and in the same year
he was consecrated archbishop OF Pc
rugia. He continued in this position
for the 80 years which interviewed be-
fore his election to the highest position
in the church. his tenure Of the episco-
pate coinciding exactly with the 32
years OF the reign of Plus TX. Such
success did not pass unnoticed. and in
1850 Mgr. Pecci was elevated TO the
dignity OF cardinal priest
At the consistory held in 1877 Car
dinal Pecci was appointed camerlingo
OF the Roman church, which gave him
chief charge OF the temperatures or
the Holy See In this capacity It fell
TO his task to make the necessary ar
rangements for the conclave for the
election Of a new pope after the death
of Plus TX, in February, 1873. The
conclave lasted &c hours, and at the
third ballot Cardinal Pecci was elect
ed supreme pontiff and took the name
OF Leo XIII, after the famous Pope
Leo X. for whom he had great ven
Grafton. He was crowned on March
with the tiara, or triple crown, the /
ceremony taking place not in st. Pc
ters. where all his predecessors but |
one had been crowned since 1855, but /
in the Sistine chapel in the Vatican, /
where the conclave had been held
Public opinion regarded the new
pope as characterized above all things (
by love or peace, ana II was expected I
that. departing from that non possu- /
mus policy OF his predecessor, he would 1
speedily conclude a compromise with I
the Italian government, and thus put I
an end to the antagonism between the /
Vatican and the Quirinal. But the
world was soon undeceiyed. and in his /
first encyclcal, promulgated at the
Easter following his accession. Pope
Leo XIII unhcsitatiugly maintained
his demand for tie restoration OF tho
temporal power Of the papacy. nor d.
he ever iccede from the position then
taken NJ.
The principal events during his
reign as pope we're as follows:
Revived Catholic hierarchy in Scot
land. March 4, 1873
Encyclical condemning communism,
socialism and nihilism, December 2S,
1878.
Encyclical against heresy, socialism,
November 5, 1882.
Recognized unity of Italy, October T.
1888.
Encyclical condemning liberalism,
November 6, 1885.
Celebrated golden jubilee, 1887.
Celebrated grand jubilee, 1888.
Encyclical on socialism and labor,
May 16, 1891.
Celebrated episcopal Jubilee, Febru-
airy, 1898.
Issued appeal to England for reunion
OF Christendom, April 4. 1894.
Celebrated Goth anniversary OF MS
first mass. February 10, 1898.
Declared 1900 a year of anniversary
jubilee, May II, 1899.
Held consistory and created ii new
cardinals, June 10, 1899.
Celebrated Goth birthday March 3,
1900.
Issued jubilee encyclical to prelates
condemning evils Of the day-his So
rallied last testament" March 29,lsO2.
raiahrated nonfifical Jubilee March |