The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-07-20

Embassaaor. bishop and Cardinal.
Joachim pecci was in his $50 year when
Gregory XIV appointed him apostolic nun
clio, or papal ambassador, to the kingdom Of
BELGIUM. The ambassador reached BFus.
sells and found that secret societies were
represented there In force. When he ap-
peared at the court Of King Leopold, he
produced Q most favorable impression Il
was apparent that ho was m accomplished
scholar, well bred man and one who had
not little wit.
In the difficult task which was before him
Archbishop Pecei had the benefit Of the
oounsels Of Queen Louisa Maria, who was
most devout Catholic. To protect the Bel
Rian Catholics against the opposition TO
them ii the Belgian parliament was theem-
bassadors first duty, and, as usual, hefound
a very practical way Of going to work. He
began the visitation Of the great Catholic
schools and stirred up those who controlled
them until 1t became known that more
work and better work was done In them
than In their rivals. In the College OF ST.
Michael be made his influence especially
felt 1t being directly under the eyes OF
king and minister.
When Perugia lost its bishop, Mgr Cit-
tadini, the city magistrates, the nobility
and clergy petitioned that Mgr, Pecci be
appointed to the place The pope con
scented, provided the consent Of the arch
bishop could be obtained and this was
given as soon as asked fog. Before going
to Perugia Mgr Pecci Visited England,
ireland and France. He arrived ia Rome
when Gregory XVI was lying at deaths
I door, and the letter which Leopold had
I written could not be read by the pontitt.
In that letter the king Of the Belgians had
urged the pope to make Mgr. Pecci car
dinal and had spoken very strongly OF his
services as a diplomat.
The archbishop, bishop Of Perugia, en-
| tered the old city on July 26, 1876 Here he
was destined to remain for 81 years direct
| ing his diocese, fighting the influence Of the
secret societies, encouraging education IN
every possible way and becoming, through
! his letters, the defender Of the papacy
among the Italian bishops Diplomacy,
his chosen field, was deprived Of his serv.
ices for a long period. 1t is, however, ques-
ton whether Mgr Pecci did not do more
| for the church from the quiet of his library
by the famous letters he found time 70
write than he could had be served as an EN-
bassado-
On the Goth Of February, 1854, Perugia
| celebrated the elevation Of her bishop to
the cardinalate, in which celebration all
/ ranks AID orders Of society joined, for Car
| dinal Pecci was most popular even among
men who did not belong to the church
and all delighted to do him personal honor
There was a similar tribute paid on tht
18th Of January, 1871, when the cardinal
celebrated his silver jubilee.
Elected Pope.
Pope Plus TX appointed Cardinal Pecc
camerlingo in 1877. This Office gives its &C
| cupant charge of the temporalities Of tn,
church during any vacancy Of the papa
4 chair, and with it came Cardinal Pecci'l
residence in Rome The jubilee of Plus TX
had brought throngs OF pilgrims to Rome
and the opposition of the government O
Victor Emanuel to the papacy had thereb,
been much increased. In January, 1878
Plus TX died, shortly after Victor Emanuel
and with King Umberto there was to be {
new pope The question whether the ftal
ian government would allow a free election
was warmly debated, and many thought j
would not.
As camerlingo it was Cardinal Peceii
duty to make arrangements for the con
clave in which the new pope was to b.
elected No opposition came from the gov
ernment, and the preparations in the Yati
can wentrapidly forward On Feb, Is, 1873
the 81 cardinals present in Rome entered
the apartments Of the conclave Prime
Chigi, hereditary marshal Of the church ans
guardian Of the conclave, locked the doc
outside, and the cardinal camerlingo locket
it within. Mgr Rieoi Parraccani, gov
ernor of the conclave, examined the inelo
sure SO as to besure there was no method o
communication with the outside world
The eonclave assembled in the Sistin
chapel, in which ca seats each shadowet
by canopy emblematic Of sovereignty
had been erected.
The places taken BY the four cardinal
created BY Gregory XVI were marked will
green hangihgs, all the others being purple
In front Of each cardinal was a small writ
ing table, and to each was given q schedulla
or ballot, in the center Of which he was t,
write the name Of his choice. a full two
thirds vote was necessary for an election
On the altar stood d large chalice with IT
paten and one By one the cardinals ad
vanced, knelt before the altar and declare
hechose the man he considered most fitted
Then, rising, he deposited his ballot on th
paten
Three serutineers we're chosen TO coun
the ballots On the first vote the name o
Joachim Pecci appeared % times On th
second he received 3s On the third, takei
on them0rning Of the20th Of February, 1878
he received A and was declared elected
The subdean, the senior cardinal priest ani
cardinal deacon approached the seat Of Car
dinal Pecci