The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-08-06
POPE Plus X.

Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto, patriarch
of Venice. who on Tuesday was ele.
waited to the supreme leadership of the
great Catholic church OH earth, is
generally conceded to be one of the
best men for the high position in the
entire college of cardinals. While not
as prominently mentioned as Cardinals
Gotti, Vannutelli or Rampolla, Sarto
was one of the seven who were regard
ed as most likely to be considered and
though not as we'll known either in
the church or the world at large as
were some other members of the sacred
college, nevertheless, he is regarded
as a strong man and a worthy success
sor to the great and good Pope Leo.
Giuseppe Sarto was born i'll Riesi,
in the diocese Of Treviso, on June 2,
1885. He studied at the College of
Castefranco and in the Seminary of
Padua His first cure was in the par
ish of Tombalo, from which he was
transferred in 1867 to Salzano. The
Bishop of Treviso, whose favorable
attention he attracted, made him canon
of the cathedral of Mantua, and at
the consistory Of June IL, 1898, was
created cardinal by Leo XIII, re-
ceiving then the title of S. Bernardo
dele Terme He was at this time
also made patriarch of Venice, the
title Of patriarch being next to that of
pope, the highest dignity in the
Catholic hierarchy. Sarto, who was
the only patriarch of the Italian
chruch, encountered determined OPP
position ON the part Of the Italian
government before he could take pos
session of his see. The government
maintained that the patriarchate was
part of the king Of [taly's patronage
and that it was the kings right to
present his own candidate. The
difficulty which ensued was in real
ity solved, or shelved, because Car
dinal Sarto, though chosen by the
pope was favorite with the italian
government, and with King Humbert
himself-a rather singular case in
Italy The cardinal has, therefore,
ruled his diocese undisturbed during
the last ten years, beloved by Catho-
lies, esteemed by the government, and
respected by his enemies. Under his
sway the Catholic institutions Of
Venice have thriven exceedingly, and
the cardinals piety, combined with
his very noteworthy common sense,
has given him the reputation of being
ecclesiastical congregations of bishops
and regulars, sacred rites indulgences
and sacred relics. He is great
preacher, is fairly we'll known as a
writer and has the reputation of &C
complshlng all the works that he has
undertaken
Sarto is probably the most able ad-
ministrator Of the Italian episcopacy,
com bines firmness and determination
with abundant tact and common sense,
and has managed to inaugurate
number of very practical reforms in
his archdiocese of Venice without
giving offence either to the clergy or
to the laity He avoids all news
paper notoriety. Indeed, his name is
rarely mentioned in the press He
has always understood how TO main.
tain an agreeable, yet dignified.
modus vivendi" with the italian
authorities. from whom he derives his
stipend and has shown his enlight
eminent by the vigorous campaign
which he has carried on againsg the
veneration of relics of questionable
authenticity. He is on friendly terms
with the members of the reigning
house of Italy during the late reign
he took part with King Humbert and
Queen Marguerite in the launching Of
man of war, at Venice, as we'll as
in other state ceremonies at which
they were present. and must certainly
be most agreeable choice as pope to
the present ruler of Italy. He is just
over sixty eight years of age, the
exact age at which Leo XIII assumed
the papacy. At Rome, in the ponti-
fical court, he has seemed somewhat
like a fish out of water" being
humble and simple in his tastes. He
is, however, stickler for ecclesiasti-
cal discipline; hates praise, and did
not hesitate in the past to write some
hard truths to Leo III. himself when
necessary.
Sarto was distinctly the candidate Of