Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-20
LEO XIII.

physics. His aptitude for natural science, however, in no way interfered with his taste for literature and classical studies, and even in those early days he was remarkable for the elegance and purity of his Latin, which subsequently, found such notable ex- pression, not only in his encyclicals and ecclesiastical work but in the higher plane of poetry. He obtained, in 1881, the degree of Doctor of Divinity and entered the Aca- denny ot Noble Ecclesiastics to study law and diplomacy and thus qualify himself for joining what may. be termed the Papal Dip lomatic Service and become conversant with the system of the spiritual govern ment. It 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 Diaconate and Diaconate and on March IA of the same year Gregory XVI made him a Domestic Prelate, his first promoter, with the title of Monsignor.
 On December 8, 1887, he was ordained Priest by Cardinal Odesca1chi, saying his first mass in the chapel of St. Stanislaus at the Jesuit Noviciate of St. Andrea. Early in 1888 Mgr. Pecci was named Governor of the Papal Province of Benevento and, like Sixtus V, busted himself with the sup pression of brgandage. In connection with this work the following story was told of Mgr. Pecci: A certain Marquis called one day to protest against what he considered the interference of the Governor and in formed the latter that he was just starting for Rome to procure his recall.
 Have you considered the step well, Marquis ?" asked Mgr. Pecci.
 Yes, Monsignor, said the other, ''and 1 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 1 rested or shot.
 From Benevento Mgr. Pecci was trans ferred to the Governorship of Perugia, where he remained for a year and a half. The young ecclesiastic, in 1843, was called to exercise his talents in more im- portant post, being consecrated bishop of Damietta In pGrtibus and sent to Brussels as papal nuncio. It was as representative of the vatican in the Belgian capital that he ! first gained the politica! insight and experi- ence which have been one of the principal characteristics of his tenure of the pontifi- | cal throne. -[
 Mgr. Pecci remained ovef three years in 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, | 1846, and In the same year he was conse- crated Archbishop of Perugia. He con tinued in this position for the g years which intervened before his election to the L: ..Ia i,, k1A 0I, ! AAS of the episcopate coinciding exactly with the g years of the reign of Plus TX.
 In his episcopal labors the Archbishop showed no less energy and zeal than he had displayed as governor of a pontifical state. | Among other achievements he succeeded 1 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 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 new pope after the death. of Plus TX, in February, 1878. The conclave lasted 38 hours and at the third ballot Cardinal Pecci was elected su- preme pontiff and took the name of Leo XIII after the famous Pope Leo XII, for whom he had a great veneration and at whose jubilee he had assisted as a simple student. He was crowned on March with the 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 concave had been held.
 Public opinion regarded the new pope as lover of peace, and it was expected that, departing from that non pessunous policy of his predecessor, he would speedily conclude a compromise with the Italian government and thus put an end to the antagonism be- tween the vatican and the quirinal. But the world was soon undeceived and, in his first Encyclical, promulgated at the Easter following his accession, Pope Leo XIII un- hesitatingly maintained his demand for the restoration of the temporal power ot the papacy, nor did he ever recede from the position then taken up.