The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-20
A LONG AND WONDERFUL LIFE
The Story Joachim Pecc Who Became Pope XIII
pished So Much His Church.

Pope Leo XIII, in private life Joachim Vim
sl deue eas
nally lived In Siena, but during the struggles
with the Medici they, emigrated to Carpinete.
2, 1910. d
By. right Of lineage, by family associations,
and by special training, Joachim ~, Peeci way ~,
held high. place in the service OF the papacy.
Joachim Peccis father was soldier. Count Do
sns PeSf deyout Catholic and n
ancient Volscian city of Cora. and a descendant
had seven children, of whom Joachim was the
Plus Vii. had restored the Society OF Jesus,
and college was opened at Viterbo. Here
Joachim Pecci was enrolled In 1915 At 20, III
his twelfth year at college, he wrote an ode Of
of the provincial Of the order, Father Vincent
Pavani, (which STANDS to this day as a model Of
eo PssF was restored
to the Jesuits by Eco XII, in 1924, young Pecci
withdrew from, viterbo, and for the next SIX
with high honors. Two years later he won his
degree Of doctor In theology, the most important
aeademtcal distinction conferred by the Catholic
In 1882 DR.. Joachim Pecci, wearing with con.
servative dignity the honors Of 40 at the age of
self for the rank OF noble ecclesiastic He mad
administrative career under the pontiacal row
Before retiring with the coveted title Of doctor
IN civil and canon law in 1887 he won the arst
1887, Pecci was ordained In the church Of ~
Andrew on the Quirinal
Exterminated Banditti.
In February, 1888, Father Pecci was named
territory which was sad state Of diss;up
tion haying become the haven OF desperate
;, In exterminating these freebooters Pecci won
the gratitude which the poor people Of Beneyento
fet.which they showed when. the delegate fail:
bareheaded thru the streets to the great church
to TO-, implore the protection of heaven for their
Peruga There he found state Of aairs Stint Z
the bakers Of the city were systema ticaiiy
sswindiing their customers by selling shortweight
several Officers, conhscated every Loaf that W Was
under Weight and took all the seized bread
criminal in all Perugia.
AS a Diplomat.
Monsgnore Pecci, with the rank Of archbishop.
position was delicate and trying. Belgium w as
In sore political distress Pecci won the favor
ef hs aem BRUSHES ng but ts ae pssc
Perretti became the sovereign Of the church as
member of the college of cardinals, Dec. is,
Pecci's recall from Brussels was blow which
ana sm0it,9as he was fssf winning fame as Is
das s1essd T t. t ass Sasn be
diocese. The action Of Gregory XVI. in this
From the facts tat Ut hand ii can only lie dedueed
that the politicians of the vatican were jealous OF
s ame e.
Pecci never wavered in his zeal. He was 40
energetic as an :, archbishop as he had been
lce, and when the latter passed away on Feb.
Z, 1878, Cardinal Pecci was in position to Well
the scepter of control. His success, even in the
restricted sphere at Perugia, had made him
disnked by Plus TX, mainly because Pecci had
established friendly relations with the Italian
government. sesE.-4-F!
Elevation to the Papal Throne.
When Pius TX. died Pecci YVES the cardinal
camerlengo. The office required him to ar.
range the funeral, and the asherman's ring was
in his keeping. Feb. 49, 1878, the conclaTe as.
dead pontin: Feb. TO- the third and last bal
lot showed folty-four votes out of sixty two in
favor Of Cardinal Pecci. The moment the re-
suit of the election was certain Cardinal Franci,
the defeated competitor, at once threw him
an example at once followed by the whole as
semDled college. His election was distinct
personal victory over the men who were fnstr,l.
mental in securing Pecci's recall from Brus.
The selection of Joachim Pecci as pope was
Church. He was a very different Kind Of man sae
from the aged and peace-loving Pink TX, ana his
rebuking words, II am not PIux IX.,' soon came
to be known to all the court favorites. He de-
clared that his name should be Leo KILL a sign
of the clear determination that the new reign
should usher in new era.
The coronation took place in the Sistine chapel.
on Sunday, March 8, 1878. This. election rave
Satisfaction to every country in the world
whether in the religious communion of the church
or not. The new pope was already we'll known
and his conciliatory temper, coupled with sen.
and his conciliatory tempera, coupled with a SEN
sitive care for the honor of the church. Events
have proved that he was equal to cope with the
most perplextng political questions thar have
harrassed this restless nineteenth century
Leading Events in His Reign.
The reign of Pope Leo Kill, while lacking In
the dramatic incidents which made that OF Plus
TX. spectacular, han been one of SURPRISING i'm
portance. He entered on his reign confronted by
many serious problems-the renewal of neeotia-
lions with Prussia growing difficulties With
France, negotiations with Italy with regard to
the delicnte questions of the exequatur and OF
the placet, initial intervention In Spain With 4
view of uniting the Catholics around existing
institutions, the establishment of the hierarchy
In Tunis, attempted negotiations with Russia.
etc.-but his talent Tor diplomacy served him
wen. Whoever the foreign secretary at the
vatican might be, Leo xiii. remained his own
foreign ministes His attitude toward foreign
q grave and oignifed language in addressing