The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-21

and even in those early days he was re-
markable for the elegance and purity of
his Latin, which subsequently found such
notable expression not only in his ency-
clicals and ecclesiastical work, but in the
higher plane of poetry.
He obtained, in 1881, the degree of doc.
tor of divinity, and entered the Academy
of Noble Ecclesiastics to study law and
diplomacy and thus qualify himself for
joining what may be termed the papal d.
plomatic service and become conyersant
with the system of the spiritual govern
ment. 1t is from the ranks of this official
body that, in these days a new Pontiff
is almost invariably chosen
In 1887 Joachim Pecci received the sub
dlaconate and diaconate. and on March II
of the same year Gregory XVI made him
a domestic prelate, his first promotion,
with the title of monsignor.
MADE WAR ON BRIGANDs.
On Decembeur %, 1897, he was ordained
priest by Cardinal Odescalchi. In 1888
Mgr. Pecci was named governor OF the
papal province Of Benevento, and, like
Sixtus V. busted himself with the suppress
sion of bringandage. A certain marquis
called one day to protest against what he
considered the interference of the COVER
nor and informed the latter that he was
Just starting for Rome to procure his re
call
Have you considered the step well,
marquis?" asked Mgr. Pecci.
eyes, monsignor," said the other; "and
I'm going at once
To this the governor rejoined:
Resolutions of this kind should be well
considered at leisure. You will do me the
honor of staying here for the present"
That same night the marquis castle was
surrounded, and twenty eight brigands, of
whom he was patron and chief, were ar
rested or shot.
From Benevento Mgr Pecci was trans
ferred to the governorship of Perugia,
where he remained for year and half
The young ecclesiastic, in 1S43, was call
ed to exercise his talent of a more i'm
portant post, being consecrated Bishop of
Damietta in Partibus and sent to Brussels
as papal nuncio.
Mgr. Pecci remained over three years ir
Belgium, and on his recall to Italy was
decorated with the grand Gordon of the
Order of Leopold After leaving Brussels
the nuncio paid a visit to London. This
was in February. 1886, and IN the same
year he was consecrated Archbishop of
Perugia. He continued in this position for
the thirty-two years which interviewed
before his election to the highest position
in the church, his tenure of the episcopate
exactly with the thirty-two
years of the reign of Plus TX.
ELECTED SUPREME PoNTIFF.
In his episcopal labors the archbishop
showed no less energy and zeal than he
had displayed as governor of pontifcal
State Among other achievements, he sue
ceeded in purging the archdiocese of
brigandage and at a certain time all the
prisons under his spiritual jurisdiction
were empty. Such success did not pass
unnoticed, and, in 1850, Mgr Pecci was
elevated to the dignity of cardinal priest.
At the consistory held in 1877 Cardinal
Pecci was appointed camerlingo of the
Roman church, which gave him chief
charge of the temperatures of the Holy
See. In this capacity it fell to his task
to make the necessary arrangements Tor
the conclave for the election of new
Pope after the death of Plus TX. in Feb
ruary, 1878. The conclave lasted thirty
six hours, and at the third ballot Cardin-
Al Pecci was elected Supreme Pontiff,
and took the name of Leo Kill. after
the famous Pope Leo x, for whom he had
a great veneration. He was crowned on
March Is, with tiara, or triple crown, the
ceremony taking place, not in st. Peters,
where all his predecessors but one had
been crowned since 1855. but in the Sistine
Chapel in the Vatican. where the con-
ciaye had been held.
AT the Easter following his accession
Pope Leo XIII unhesitatingly maintain
ed his demand for the restoration of the
temporal power of the papacy, nor did
ne ever recede from the position then
taken up.
From the very outset the new pontiff
displayed the greatest interest i'll the So
cal questions agitating the world of to.
cay, and in an encyclical issued in De-
cember, 1878, appealed to the intellectual
forces Of Catholcity to contest the pro-
paganda of doctrines which His Holiness
described as subversive of social order,
alluding especially to the Socialists in
Germany and the Nihilist movement in
Russia.
The first great political achievement of
the Pope was the settlement of the differ
ences with Germany. which had given
rise to the famous Kuturkampf.
A still greater tribute was paid by Ger
many to His Holiness by her selection
OF him as arbitrator in the dispute with
SPAN regarding the Caroline Islands and
her deferential acceptance of his decis-
sion in favor of the weaker power.
In February, 1900, the Pope issued an
encyclical on Americanism which caused
much discussion. and in dune, 1901, be is
sued letter on labor, which also aroused
much interest.
CONDENSATION OF DIVORCE.
The late Pontiff on March, 20, 1902. pub
Iished long encychcal letter, the tone
of which suggested testamentary recon-
mendations, and in which he deplored the
renewed attacks on the church and the
recent errors OF humanity" instancing
divorce and picturing the present cond-