The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-07-24
THE LATE POPE.
sketch of the Life of the Late
Pope Leo the Thirteenth.


neto, in the diocese OF Anagni, in the
papal states, on Marcn >, 1910, being |
christened under the name Of Joachim
The Society Of Jesus, which |
it was afterward tie first care OF his
pontiicate TO restore to its ancient po- |
sition in the councils o. the church, |
was intrusted with MS education, |
young Pecci being sent at the age OF
eight years to the Jesuit College at Vi
berbo, where he renamed until his
fourteenth year.
At this time his mother died, and ne
shortly afterwarad proceeded to Rome
to continue his studies at the Jesuit
College in that city When he was
eighteen years old he secured the first
prize for chemistry and physics. His
appetite for natural science. however,
in no way interfered with his taste for
literature and classical studies, and
even in those early days he was re-
markable for the elegance and purity
Of his Latin, which subsequently found
such notabale expression not only in
but in the higher plane of poetry.
He obtained, in 1881, the degree Of
doctor 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 diplomatic SER
vice and become conversant with the
system of the spiritual government. 1t
g from ha rolyS nf this official h00U
that, in these days. a new pontiff is al
most invariably chosen.
In 1897 Joachim Peo2i received the
sub-diaconate, and on March IA Of the
same year Gregory XVI made him a
domestic prelate. his first promotion.
with the title of monsignor.
MADE WAR ON BRIGANDS.
On December %, 1887, he was ordain-
ed priest by Cardinal OGescalchi, say
ing his first mass in the chapel of ST.
Stanislaus at the Jesuit Eovitiate of st.
Andrea. Early in 1888 Mgr. Pecci was
named governor of the papala province
of Benevento, and, like SiXtus V. busted
himself with the suppression of brigan-
dage. In connection with this work
| the following story was told Of Mgr.
L VSNI- Il SCi tam duiS SShiiiOo o--S
day to protest against what he consid-
cred the interference of the governor
and informed the latter that he was
just starting for Rome 10 procure his
| recall.
Have you considered the step we'll.
marquis?" asked Mgr. Pecci.
Yes. monsignor," said the other:
land I'm going at once
To this the governor rejoined:
Resolutions of this kind should be
| we'll 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 bri-
gaands, of whom he was patron and
chief. were arrested or shot.
From Benevento Mgr. Pecci was
transferred to the Sovernorship of
Perugia, where he remained for year
and a half
The young ecclesiastic in 1S43 was
called to exercise his talents in a more
important post, being consecrated
bishop of Damietta II Partibus and
sent to Brussels as papal nuncio. It
was as representative Of the Vatican in
the Belgian capital that ne first gained
TIE pOlllICdl insight dIiu SADeIltlcS
which have been one &C the principal
characteristics Of his tenure of the pom
tifical throne.
Mgr. Pecci remained ever three years
in Belgium, and on his recall to Italy
Wds decorated with the grand Gordon
Of the Order of Leopold. After leaving
Brussels the nuncio paid visit to Lon
don. This was in February, 1876, and
in the same year he was consecra ted
archbishop of Perugia. He continued
in this position for the thirty-tWo o
years which interviewed before the cleo
ton to the highest position ir the
church, his tenure Of the episcopate
coinciding 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 ard zeal than he
had displayed IS governor of a pontifi-
cal state. Among other achievements,
| he succeeded in purging the archdio-
| cese of brigandage and at a certain
time all the prisons under his spiritual
jurisdiction We're empty. Such success
did not pass unnoticed, and, in 1850,
Mgr. Pecci was elevated to the dignity
oI cdl0lIldI priest. AT tne cOnSlSIoly
held in 1877 Cardinal fecci was ap-
pointed camerlingo OF the Roman
church, which gave him chief charge OF
| the temporalitieS Of the holy see. In
| this capacity it fell TO his task to make
| the necessary arrangements for the con-
clave for the election OF a new pope
after the death OF Plus TX, in Febru-
ary, 1878. The conclava lasted thirty
six hours, and at the third ballot Car
| dinal Pecci was elected supreme Dontiff
| and took the name OF Leo XIII. after
| the famous Pope Leo y. for whom he
| had a great veneration. He was
| crowned on March 13,with tiara or triple
| crown, the ceremony taking place, not
| ia st. Peters, where all his predeces-
| sorS but one had bean crowned. since
1855, but in the Sistine chapel in the
Vatican. where the coIcIave had been