The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-07-20
LIFE OF THE LATE
POPE LEO XIII.
Sketch Of the Life Of the Deceased
Pontiff- -Epochs in an
Honored Career.

The exceeding ability Of the late pope, the
genius which enabled him to transform a
friendless church into a church having
friends everywhere, lay in several great
qualities of mind He had patience which
nothing could tire He could wait months
or years, As need be-, until his time came
he had no oelusions Joachim Pecci saw
things rs they were, not as lie would have
liked to have them. He lad no anim0si
ties file believed an enemy an enemy only
until he could make him friend, and be
was always ready 70 welcome friend. he
recognized talent at once and never sooner
than in those opposed TO him. Al good idea
was good idea to him, no matter who pro
posed 1t, and he never committed the mis-
take OF undertaking the forces against
him He had that genius which can tell
what is possible and what impossible. As
easily as be could weigh others, SO easily
could he weigh himself He knew his own
limitations
lie was great man among the great
men Of bis day, He played part amid
some OF the most tremendous dramas Of
history, and he played it successfully
With no force Of arms he made men who
ordered armies to obey him; out Of enemies
he created friends, church which he found
the prey OF all he left strong III the circleof
her defenders Leo XIII viii so down in
history as one of the greatest among the
long line Of great men who have filled the
papal chair.
Personally the late pontiff was tall and
slender, and his hair was snow white. His
face had the kindliest Of expressions, and
bis smile was ready when anything amusing
was said. His keen wit was tempered by
charitable wish not to wound the feelings
of others His manner was high bred ard
finished, and he possessed q most charming
courtesy, which placed all who saw him at
their ease He loved TO chat on literary
topics, and to the last found pleasure in
reading the great authors Of ofantiquity. His
experience Of life was SO vast that his re
marks were full Of quiet wisdom lie
impressed every one who met him. His
personal habits were simple to degree, for
he lived the life of an ascetic His sindustry
and power for work were extraordinary,
and the labor he daily went through while
pope was enough to exhaust much younger
and stronger man
Chronology and Early 4aIfe.
Joachim Vincent Raphael Lodovico Pecci.
afterward Pope Leo XIII, was born March
i
Jesuit college at Viterbo In 1918, where he
remained till 1925 when he entered the
Collegio Romano, just restored by Pope Leo
XII In 1928 he took first prize ia physics
and chemistry In 1880 he was ma1riculated
as a divinity student at the Gregorian uni.
versity. In1ss2 he won the degree doctor OF
theology and entered the College Of Noble
Ecclesiastics, where those who design t0
serve the ponti6cal government diplomat
ically or Enthusiastically are trained. Ii
1887 be was made subdeacon, then deacon.
then priest In 1888 he was made delegate
or governor Of the province Of Peneyento.
In 1s4l hew appointed governor Of Spole.
to. In 1s43 he was made apostolic nuncio.
or papal ambassador, to Belgium and tit.
ular archbishop of Damietta. In 1S45 he
was made bishop Of Perugia, where he ar
rived in 1s46 In 1853 he was made oardi
nal. In 1877 he was appointed canerlingo.
In 1878 he was chosen pope to succeed Plus
TX, deceased.
Joachim Vincent Raphael Lodovico Peeci
was the son of Count Domenieo Lodovieo
Pecci Of Carpineto and Anna Prosperi Bazi.
The family to which he belonged came
originally from Siena. Its chiefs having
| taken sides with the Medici IN the long
struggle between Siena and Florence found
! 1t necessary to eTnigrate to the states Of the
church. They settled IN Carpineto, a rugged
mountain town nestled down between two
great crags Count Lodovico Pecci's wife