The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-21
The Papal Anniversary.

Inc n1agn11lcent and impressive cere-
monial incident to the celebration of Pope
Leo xIIIths twenty fifth anniversary Of
his election to the pontifical throne, yes
terday, will be followed March 3 by the
still more imposing. celebration Of the
twenty-fifth anniversary. Of his corona ton
and accession to the historic throne.
On these occasions the Latin church
presents to the contemplation Of the OBJ
server the pomp and glory Of her external
existence, which, haye through the ages
impressed the ,plutossed MIND. to awe and
reverence! as well as attracted powerfully
the sympathies and adherence Of aesthetic
minds, which crave, the profuse use Of
symbolry in worship and who delight in
the contemplation Of the grandeur Of a
system which has made history, and
which, for centuries was dominant po-
litical as well as religious force in the
world, and which, although that influence
is minimized to some extent in these lat
ter days, speaks through the pontifical
head, tiaraed with the triple crown which
denotes the persistent claim of the wearer
to temporal as we'll as spiritual and
purgatorial power.
ST. Peters at Rome is the material ex-
preston of the papal power and glory.
The great dome looms up conspicuous
from whichever direction Rome, the
eternal city. is approached, and it's in
terror as we'll as it's external vastness is
described by travellers as suggesting a, uni
versal temple, with room for all. Its
vastness and beauty compel reverence;
but it's glory, when beneath the lofty
dome the pontiff is borne on high by the
| m1tred train, and brilliant encourage
environs him, as. yesterday, is over
Whelming. The! genius Of man has
erected no grander ter, pie for the Worship
of the Infinite God.
Pope Leo XIII. will, doubtless, reach the
close of the twenty fifth year of his
pontificate. He has worn the triple crown
longer than any of his predecessors ex-
cept Plus TX. and Plus VI, and st. Peter,
| whose quarter century pontifcate is still
| in need of veriflcation, and he has been
! exceeded in age, only by Gregory IN for
Leo is in his ninety third year and was
apparently in good physical condition,
| yCSlClueS dlIHOuSlI, uuIluS inc past lew
years, lie has several times been pro-
nOunced on the verge Of death, and talk
of his successor has been quite vigorous
and known to Leo, who continues to
brace up for every important occasion.
! AS a matter of fact, there has been an
active campo ign III preparation for the
! conclave of the sacred college. which at
| 4 ~.
death of the pope, and the college of
| cardinals is divided it is said, between
several candidates for the papal success
| sion. Pope Leo, who was Gioacchino
Pecci, archbishop Of Perugia, was not the
| choice of Plus TX, and was disliked by
! Cardinal Antoncl1i, but, when the card
inals went into conclave on Feb. Is, 1878,
| he was the favorite, and, on the after
noon of Feb. 20, Cardinal Caterini made
| the formal announcement from the bal
| cony of st. Peters in Latin: II an
nounce to YOU with great joy that we have
chosen the most reverend and eminent
Gioacchino Pecci lord pontiff with the
name Leo XIII. =!
Leo at first tried to reform abuses
which he found in the internal economy of
the vatican and apostolic court, and prove
| himself a model pope, but he was soon
opposed, and. while he approved of
Father Curcis proposition to recover po-
/ litical strength in parliament and in local
I elections by committing the church to
active participation in politics, which
/ Plus TX had, in his later years, forbidden,
i he abandoned that policy, which was GER
tainly a wise one. from a worldly and POI
litical standpoint. Pope Leo, however,
has striven to regain the papal influence
over secular governments; has strongly
opposed the socialistic and irreligious
lphilosophfes Of the day, BY advocating