Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-07-23
DEATH OF THE POPE.

Pope Leo XIII, died at the Vatican in
Rome. at p. NJ. of Monday. or about
10 A NJ. of our time There being a
difference of six hours)-aged % years
The funeral will not occur for several
days, and after that will come the elec-
ton of a new Pope by the College Of
Cardinals.
In the meantime Cardinal Oreglia
Dean of the Sacred College will act as
Pope.
The death of the pope brings about a
widespread change in all the administra
tive departments of the church and con
siderably influences questions of church
policy. The change within the vatican
affects practically all the officials from
the highest to the lowest. Cardinal
Rampolla retires from the post of secre-
tary of state where he exercised a
strong influence, owing to the physical
infirmities of Leo. Other high officials
are similarly affected, the master of the
chamber, the under secretary of state,
the vicar of Rome. the vice chancellor,
the grand penitentiary, the librarian OF
the vatican and host of lesser officials.
These will continue to exercise their
functions until the new pope is elected,
when he will designate his own secre-
tary Of state and other officials to carry
on the various important branches OF
the church's work.
Thus there is complete transforma-
alton of apostolic authority, the death
of the pope meaning the nominal death
of all the officials under him. The pro
paganda alone remains intact. as the
prefect and entire machinery OF the
propaganda is unaffected. The chief
international questions which may be
affected by the death Of the pope are
those connected with the suppression OF
religious orders in France, the change
Of the clergy in the new Spanish -Ameri-
can possessions, the selection of the sue
cessor Of the late Cardinal Vaughan and
attendant questions connected with the
administration of the church in Eng
land. Emperor Williams visit TO the
pope created a new bond of sympathy
between Germany and the vatican. All
these questions are more or less affected
by the death Of the pope.
Among the vatican officials the
Philippine question involving transfers
| from the Spanish to the American hier-
archy and the elimination of the friars
| is regarded as one of the most impor-
tance The present Philippine policy
had the hearty approval Of Leo XIII.
and there is no reason to believe that it
will be changed The relations be-
tween the Italian government and the
vatican continue to be serious problems.
Although the temporal authority OF the
papacy terminated eight years before
Leo XIII became pope. he steadfastly
maintained the principle OF temporal
power and lost no opp1gtnnity to
| deavor to secure its restoration. ~
though the futility Of the contest has
been recognized in recent years, me
question of the relations OF the govern
ment and the vatican remains one OF
| the highest importance.
Monsignor Gasparie, who, it is said.
will be designated by Cardinal Oreglia
| to succeed the late Monsignor Volpini
as secretary of the consistory, served as
secretary Of the special commission OF
cardinals appointed to deal with the
| Philippine question. In this capacity
he took prominent part in the negotia-
| ton with the Taft commission in Rome
last year.
In point of longevity Leo was third
among the popes, having been surpass-
ed only by Pope Agatha, who died in
6s2 at the age Of 107, and Gregory TX.
in 1241, aged 9S.
His Best Monument.
Much has been printed within the
past two weeks about the life OF Leo:
He has been acclaimed the greatest OF
| modern popes. His closing hours haye
| revealed his greatness an man. Take
| the incident where Mgr. Angel. one Of
his secretaries, described to him the
| world wide sympathy which his illness
| had elected, declaring that ii had pro
duced a revival favorable to the Church
unexampled in its history. Blessed
| illnessp exclaimed the Pontiff. Devo-
tion could 20 no further. 1t IL this ef
feet Of his exhibition Of fortitude which
| IL most consoling to those who have es-
teemed him He has shown the world
how a good man can die. Something
Of the same spirit was felt by the nation
which watched around the bedside OF
William Mckinney. There was NOR
al quickening which could not be meas
ured, yet was undoubtedly far-reaching.
The calm courage Of the dying pope
will no donbt be reflected in similar
awakening, extending even beyond the
limits OF the church over which he pre-
sided.
The progress toward the sympathetic
union OF the churches which has been
accomplished during his tenure Of office
has been strikingly shown during his
illness. Creeds and dogma were forgot
ten. Prayers were offered for his recov-
cry in churches IA wide apart when he
ascended the throne as the poles. There
may not be any tangible tendency to-
ward unifcation, but that there is
broadening liberality and tolerance IL
indisputable As much Of this as IL due
to the wisdom and progressiyeness OF
the late pope Ia his best monument
Dispatch.