The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-18
THE POPE AND HIS POWER.


| The head OF the Roman Catholic
Church of the World is called Pope
the name sigrifying Father. Bishop
Head OF the Church.
For many centuries the name Pope
was confined to the bishop of Rome. but
now it means the Head OF the Church
Universal
The supreme ecclesiastical primacy
was conceded by the Catholic church to
| the Roman bishop or pope from remote
| antiquity.
Beginning with Peter. whose aces
sion took place A. D. Al, and coming down
to Pope Leo XIII, whose accession took
place in 1879, there has been an unbroken
| teen hundred and sixty-two years
During that period-from Peter to Leo
KILLS popes have reigned, averaging
2 years to each reign
Leo has reigned p years. but Pope
Plus TX reigaed from 1876 TO 1S1s-a period
Of 81 years.
Pope Plus VIII, however, assembled the
throne in 1Soe-and there have been five
popes since, making six in all in Jos
years.
The pope holds sway and jurisdiction
over the entire church body, individually
and collectively.
He is the supreme teacher OF doctor
and in this capacity is iAfallible when
speaking as such.
In other words. the pope in defining a
doctrine of faith TO be held by the
whole church is supposed to be incapable
of error.
Moreover. the pope is the supreme leg
islator in the church and can inter
pref. modify and dispense in all matters
of ecclesiastical law.
ha ic tha ind of lla
faithful-whether members of the HER
archy or laymen, and can hear and de-
eide all major causes and appeals from
lower tribunals.
The pope is the supreme adninistra-
tor-and therefore has the power to
watch over the divine services. and to
appoint remove or transfer bishops.
The pope is the supreme supervisor
and receives regularly reports and rela-
tons from bishops and other chief eccle-
siastical authorities within the limits of
their jurisdiction.
The universal ecclesiastical jurisdic-
ton of the pope includes the right TO
send agents to represent his person and
authority before the churches. or even
before the temporal authorities.
This authority is vested in the pope
by Divine right, because he is the legit-
innate successor of St Peter-and as such
the chief bishop of the Catholic world
the visible and ministerial head of the
whole church-whose invisible and eternal
head is Jesus Christ.
The origin Of the temporal power of
the pope occurred in the Sixth century,
under Gregory the Great.
National and religious. feelings con-
tributed to its growth in the first half
of the eighth century--and in the latter
half of that century the papacy entered
the list of European states by the for
NAL donations of Pepin and Charlie
magne.
Under various forms and with varying
boundaries the papal states existed
through the middle ages as a legitimate
growth. and their pacific possession
through twelve centuries was not seri-
ously disputed in the propagation of
Christian faith and culture.
The violent usurpation of Napoleon I
was undone by the congress Of Vienna
in 1915.
In 1860 the Piedmontese government en-
croached on the states of the church,
and in 1870 they were incorporated into
the kingdom of Italy.
Nevertheless, no pope has over recog-
nized that fact, nor accepted the guar
antees by which the Italian kingdom I'M
dertook to regulate its internal relations
with the papacy.
The ordinary administration OF the pa
pal authority is carried on through the
body of officials and agents whom the
pope employs in his government.
When the pope passes away his sue
cessor must be Immediately chosen.
The cardinals meet on the 18th day af-
ter the pope's decease in a series of dou
BILE cells, one for each cardinal, his sec
rotary and chamberlain, and on the 18th
day the election begins
The cardinals are not bound to elect
one of their number-only heretics and
simoniacal persons are excluded-and the
closing act of the election takes place
in chapel especially reserved for that
purpose.
When the pope-elect accepts the result
of the conclave, he rejects his baptismal
name as a rule and chooses another.
If he is not bishop he is always con-
secrated by the cardinal-bishop OF Ostia.
The reception of the pallium. the solemn
coronation and the possession of the
Lateran church take place after this
but the entire papal jurisdiction passes
into his hands when he accepts the cleo
ton.