St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-07-22
DEATH OF POPE LEO XIII.
The Head of the Catholic Church
Passes Away.

Pope Leo XIII. died at the Vatican il
Rome Monday afternoon at on O'Clock
His last words were:
81 have nothing with which to re
proach myself l die content, for l fee
that if have merited the good will O
the Savior He will have mercy"
His last moments were preceded by {
period OF insensibility. Around the bed
side at the final moment were the cardn
ais, the relatives and members of tn,
papal court. Before lapsing into TN
consciousness the dying pontiff feebly
moved his lips, his last articulate word.
being those used in bestowing benedic
ton.
The news of the pope's death spread
rapidly throughout Rome, and caused a
most profound sensation. The whole
city is in mourning.
Secretary Hays Message.
Secretary Hay sent this message to
Cardinal Rampola:
THE president desires me to express his
profound sense of the loss which the
Christian world has sustained in the
death of bis holiness, Leo XIII. Bv his
lofty character, his great lsarning and
his comprehensive charity, he adorned
his exalted station and made his reign
one OF the most illustrious, as it has been
one OF the longest, in the history of the
Catholic church."
Brief Biographical Data.
Vincenzo Giachinno Pecci, 258th Ro-
man Pontiff, born at Carpineto, Ponti6.
cal States, March 2, 1910 Son of Count
Ludovico Pecci. In 1918 entered Jesuit
College at Viterbo.
Took priests orders, 1887. Nupcio to
Belgium. 1S43. Bishop of Peruga, 1916.
Cardinal, Dec. 10, 1853. Cardinal
Camerlingo, 1877. Elected pope Feb.
IS, 1878. Crowned March 8.
Policy conciliatory. but uuyielding.
Aimed at reunion of Christendom. Com.
posed difficulties with Germany. Con
demned Irish plan of campaign, Cons.
trained French Catholics to accept
republican government.
Encyclicals on errors of socialism. con.
demning anarchy, labor problem. and
evils OF modern society and their remedies.
Roman Catholic Church, largest
denomination in the United States, with
1l,2S9,71O adherents; including Philip.
pines, 1858 ,951.
Archbishop IreImnd,s Tribute.
Upon receipt Of the death of Pope Leo
Archbishop Ireland of St. Paul paid the
following tribute to the dead preiate:
I'm Leo a truly great and good man
passes from earth. The extraordinary.
the unparalleled interest with which the
world this last fortnight kept vigil
around the vatican where the old hero
battled dramatically with grim death, is
the magnificent tribute to Leo. which
nothing could have ever evoked, save I'm.
usual grandeur of soul and unusual feats.
the offspring of that grandeur.
Greatness includes goodness, or at
least, without goodness greatness is no
boon to humanity. Leo was a good
man; he shone in every virtue; his life
was unsullied. He was deeply imbued
with the spirit OF faith.
He was simple and loving as a child
in his intimate relations with people who
came into his presence; considerable and
tactful, sweet of temper and kindliest of
word; He met kings and peasants, men
OF highest social rank, and all bowed be.
tore bis graciousness and whispered to
him words of affection and devotion.
"Leo's services were, OF course. prima.
rlly to the church. Leo made the church