Arizona republican., 1903-07-10
Leo the Thirteenth.

History will justly say that Leo the Thirteenth was one of the greatest or the popes. Measured by that standard of greatness which requires brilliant and moving acts, the immediate results of which can be seen of all men, the term might be withheld. But the world has learned that greatness does not consist alone in the achievements of the battlefield or of the forum, wherein masses of men are quickly moved to do this or that at the behest of single will. The political enemies of Gladstone were wont to ask sneeringly, what he had done to deserve the homage of the English people. It was pointed out that he had conducted no large war, had led the nation to no radical change of policy, and that his name was iden- tified with few laws on the statute books. The answer of course. was that Gladstone ranked with the leading statesmen of history because of the ex- traordinary influence which he had wielded at home and abroad for the good of his people. And it was a corol- lary that he could not have exerted this influence had he not been an ex- traordinary man. So with Leo the Thirteenth.
 When, more than twenty-five years ago, Cardinal Pecci, aged and physi- cally frail upon being elevated to the papacy chose to be known as Leo. it was not considered that the gentle. scholarly and feeble old man had any of the attributes of the lion. It was supposed that a partiality for one of the Leos who had preceded him on the pontifical throne had led him to select that name. in the exercise of the liber- ty that is given to each new pope. But throughout his long reign Leo the Thir- teenth has been very lion, both as father of the church and as a man. He has been a lion in defending the faith represented by his holy office. in rais- ing his voice in defense of the poor and the oppressed of all lands and of all faiths. and in combat against the in firmities of that puny body in which the mighty soul of him dweIt.
 Little was it supposed when he as- cended the throne of St. Peter that he would make one of the most remarka- ble records in the annals of the church. It was thought that in the brief span of life yet remaining to him he would worthily fill the robes which had just been laid down by Plus TX, but no more. He was elected in an exigency to i'll an interregnUm. But his reign was a paradox. Going to the vatican at a time when the papacy. shorn of its temporal power, was lightly regarded in every chancellory of Europe, and at a time when Italy itself was improving every opportunity to impress the fact upon the vatican that church and state were no longer one, and that Rome, even Rome, was not left to the holy See. Leo soon challenged the attention Of every civilized state. The world $ ablest diplomats were speedily con- vinced that one of the rarest states men of the age was "the prisoner of the vatican" and that his was an in- fiuence which must be reckoned with in the settlement of every question wherein the rights of humanity were at issue
 Still more of paradox does his reign appear when considered as a chapter oi the worlds religious history. In all the ages since man began to worship his Creator there was not such a breaking of the bonds of superstition, such re- ceptiveness to the light of common sense. such a crumbling of the familiar foundations of all orthodox faiths, as during the period in which Leo the Thirteenth has been the chosen leader of the worlds greatest church. And yet, during this very period the strength of the papacy-not its authori- ty. perhaps, but certainly it's influence grew in all lands. This was due, oi the pontiff himself. He is, indeed broadly catholic in the truest sense He has been in touch with affairs in all quarters of the world. This is true tC the last, as witness his request to see the daily papers of Rome after he had received extreme urction and was pa tiently waiting for the final summons Not only has he been in touch with af fairs. but his heart has ever been open to the people of all countries and ot all religions. His sincere sympathy with groping mankind everywhere, his broad tolerance of humanity's weak. ness. his actual belief in the unlversa brotherhood of man, and his child-lik, faith in the loving watchfulness of th' Father of all. have endeared him to thu people of all nations. Never abatint any of his belief that the Catholi' church was the cnly true church, h.