The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-21


This involved the presidency Of the
Apostolic Chamber and the chief charge
Of the temporalities of the Holy See. From
july, 1877, until the death OF the Pope the
following February this duty lasted. 1t
was a part OF his duty TO render the last
services, 10 close the eyes and to preside
at che magnificent obsequies OF the dead
Pontiff
ELECTED POPE.
The election of Cardinal Pecci to the papal
throne was surprise to many. On Feb. 20.
1878, the third ballot of the Sacred College
gave him a Of the 90 votes cast and he be-
came the 257th successor Of st. Peter.
Leo became the first Supreme Pontiff OF
modern times whose whole reign was bare
Of political authority. Not only was he
without temporal power in the Eternal City,
but he was, in a sense. prisoner during
all the DAYS Of his Pontfcate in the Vati-
can He is said to have left the palace
limits once, in 1890, to visit his brother,
Cardinal Joseph Pecci, on his deathbed;
but II he went, the trip was made IN deepest
was ever made, The coronation Of Leo
on March 3. 1873, in the presence only OF
the djgnitaries of the Church.
Great changes were at once made by
the new Pope in the domestic life OF the
Vatican. He brought the routine OF the
Pontifical household into harmony with
his own simplicity of living The daily
life Of the Pontiff has been thus described
by one who can do SO with accuracy
"At8 in the morning he celebrates mass in
his private chapel. At 7 he takes breakfast,
consisting of chocolate and milk. with
sometimes raw eggs beaten up: lmme-
diatey afterward he receives the visits
of his court, and Cardinal Jacoblni reports
what has occurred in the world and gives
him an account OF the letters received on
Papal business Besides these official let
tiers, others arrive in great numbers from
all parts of the world, most of them being
from priests, missionaries, monks and
nuns, while others contain sums OF money
from penitents and many are petitions for
a blessing, aid or advice.
After these letters, in all languages
have been translated and their contents
briefly reported to the Pope. they are placed
in the Papal archives. Hundreds Of tele-
grams also arrive each day, the greater
part asking for the benediction in drticuto
morris, which naturally often reaches it's
destination after the petitioner is dead
For its telegraphic correspondence the
Vatican makes Use of mineral cipher.
The greater part Of the morning is thus
passed in business. Al / o'clock the Pope
dimes, and afterward retires to his private
room until the heat Of the day is past. At
8 p. NJ. he repairs to the Vatican garden,
Nnere MS carriage awaits IllI'
AT the prettiest spot in this garden
there has been cd an elegant kiosque
in Eastern style, and there the Pope re-
mains for some time taking coffee and other
refreshments, and surrounded by his intl-
mate friends. The conversation runs on
the topics of the day and on the articles
concerning the Pope or Papal politics that
appear in the Italian or foreign journals.
Precisely at sunset the party breaks up
and the Pope returns to the palace. The
evening he spends in solitude, devoting
himself to the most arduouS labors Of the
day and to his devotions. u is midnight
before the light in the Papal chamber is
eXtinguished.
The political and ecclesiastical history Of
the administration Of Leo Kill is a record
of pacitication and growth. The loss OF
temporal power has in some degree raised
the man Of the Vatican into the lofty posi-
ton of arbiter of many of the world =
quarrels.
RELATIONS WITH ITALY
Like his predecessor, Leo XIII. refused to
accept the annual donation Of 1925 600 lire
from the Italian Government, and during
.he first years Of his administration every
insult to the Catholic religion was en-
coiraged and abetted in Rome.
But while strictly maintaining his posi-
ton. the Pope for nearly decade mani
Tested disposition toward reconciliation
with tho italian Government. Toward
the close of 1888 his attitude changed
After a sudden and severe illness he adopted
a policy of unreserved hostility toward the
national Government. and the interchange
of non-official courtesies between the Vatl-
can and the Quirinal came TO an end II
was commonly rumored in the capitals Of
Europe that the Pope's illness was caused
by an attempt by the intransigeant party
at the Vatican to kill him by poison, but
the only evidence of 1t that ever TRANSFERRED
was the change of policy. The Govern
ment was not slow TO retaliate, and there
was enacted penal code which made it a
criminal offence for any Italian ecclesiastic
to seek by word or pen TO obtain restoral
of the temporal power of the Papacy.
THE GERMAN TROUBLES.
The political misfortunes under which
the Church was suffering when Leo Is
cended the Papal throne were by no means
confined TO Italy. In Germany there were
the gravest difficulties between the Gov
eminent and the Catholic clergy, and the
fiua! pacification of these differences was
one Of tho most signal achievements, OF
Pope Leo's reign. The trouble was due
of the Prussian May laws. and the Vatican
asked that these laws and the charter Of
Prussia might be changed
The MAY laws in Prussia and the Falk
laws in Germany were enforced with iron
severity, so that finally only three dioceses
had Bishops, and a vast number Of churches
were deprived of pastors by exile and
death. This was followed in 1881 by the
assent of the Government 10 the appoint
ment of Dr. korum to the See of Treves,
where 1853 parishes were vacant. Late
in the same wear diplomatic relations be-
tween Prussia and the Holy See were re-
stored. The Pope showed a willingness,
for the sake OF delivering the Catholics
from their spiritual restitution, 10 do any
thing not incompatible with the discipline
Of the Church. The final yielding Of the
essential point of contest was made by
Emperor William in a personal letter TO
Leo
This was followed by the passage Of
Catholic relief act. which mitigated the
severity of the Falk laws, and the oele
bration of mass by priest not authorized
by the Government was no longer criminal
The condition Of the Church in Germany
priests being in exile. There was gradual
relaxation of the repressve measures
OF the Government and in 1885 the negotia-
tions eliminated in complete harmony
between the Vatican and the Emperor and
Bismarck The new friendship was ce-
mented by Emperor Williams famous visit
to the Sovereign Pontiff at the Vatican.
The Church suffered severely from hos
tile legislation in France in 1880 and 1881.
The Jesuits we're expelled from their houses
and colleges and members of other Catholic
religious orders were compelled to dispense
and break UP their academies and schools.
The Popes attitude upon the Irish ques-
ton attracted universal attention. He
distinctly antagonized the Land League.
and, by implication, at first the home rule
agitation.