The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-21

thereby openly recognized the legahty or the Italian occupation.
 Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the late popes policy was the change In the attitude which the vatican had hitherto preserved in regard to the French republic.
 At the beginning of Pope Leo's reign the identification of the clergy with the royalist movement which gave rise to Gambettas famous remarks "Le Cleric alisme VoIla L'Ennemi" had caused an antagonism to all that savored of re- ligion which at one time bid fair to lead to the early separation of church and state in France. Alive to the danger Of the situation, the pope sought to concil- late the republic by acknowledging 1t as the established legal form of government, and, in 1891, the late Cardinal Lavigerie gave expression to his holiness views on this subject to the great surprise of the Cathloie press and the perturbation of not a few members of the French Episcopate.
 Spreads the Catholic Faith.
 While thus engaged in political negotla- tions with various countries requiring the greatest address and dexterity, the late pope paid special attention to the work of propagating the Catholic faith and no pontificial reign since the reform
  of Catholicism or such an extension Of the spiritual dominion of the Catholic church, especially in English speaking countries As an example of this may be cited the numerous pilgrimages which came to the Eternal City from all parts of the world, for instance at the time Of the celebration, December 23, 1884, of the jubilee of the pope's ordination to the priesthood. The jubilee service m St. Peters on that occasion was attended by fifty thousand persons. At the mass the pope used a golden ewer and basin pre- sented to him by the late Queen Victoria and wore a tigara given him by the Em- peror of Germany His holiness also wore magnificent diamond ring sent him by the Sultan of Turkey as personal mark of his good will and pleasure.
 In February, 1900 the pope issued an encyclcal on Americansm, which caused much discussion, and in June 1901, he is- sued letter on labor, which also aroused much interest.
 On March g. 1902 the late pope took part in the public celebrations, in honor of the twenty-fourth anniversary of his coronation by holding "papal chapel in the Basilica of St. Peters, on which occasion he was greeted by fifty thous- and persons. This was the first time "a ehapel' had been held in the Basilica since 1S70 such ceremonies having here tofore taken place in the Sistine chapel Thirty cardinals were among those pres ent. The late pontiff on March 29, 1902, published a long encyclical letter, the tone of which suggested Testamentary recommendation and in which he de- plored the renewed attacks on the church and the ''recent errors of human ity," instancing divorce, and picturing the present condition of society as having drifted into a state of anarchy.
 The twenty-fourth anniversary of Pope Leo's coronation was celebrated at the vatican July G. 1902, by the entire papal court and thousands of members of all the Catholic societies assembled in Rome for the occasion.
 The last notable encycllcal of Leo XIII was dated October 30, 1902, and was de- signed to promote study of the Scriptures and In February of this year he wrote a poem dedicated to a friend whom the pontiff desired to advise on the best means of prolonging life
 The twenty-fifth anniversary of the late pope's election to the chair of St. Peter was celebrated February 20 of this year with elaborate pomp in the Hall Of | Modification. above the portico of St. Peter, on which occasion the venerable prelate was presented with a gold tiara, costing $25,O as the jubilee present of the Catholic world and with large sums of money from various sources.
 The celebration of the twenty-fifth an- l niversary of the late pope's coronation occurred in St Peters March last, with all the impressiveness and grandeur of the Catholic church and on April 2S, the pontifcate of the late pope surpassed in length that of St. Peter, Leo XIII having then been elected pope twenty five years, two months and seven days, known as "the years of Peter"
 King Edward visited the late pope in the latter part of April, and Emperor William was received by the late Pom ] tiff early in May.
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