The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-15
Pope LEO XIII.
His Most Remarkable Life.
fRyF. Prescott- Brln lnock..

the little village OF CaEplESSO, IS1iSs
Of the middle ages, its inhabitants,
numbering only some five hundred,
being as it were dependents upon the
Pecci Family, and with nothing TO
call attention Of the outside world to
The fact Of stleir existences, except that
If IS the birth place Of Giacomo Vim.
cenzo Rafaellc Pecci, no less person
age than the Roman Catholic, PontlH,
Pope Leo XIII a. = z .
Nino, (as;he was called during the
earIy wears of his life Pecei, was
born IN she ancestral palace, -resemb-
HING in the eyes Of the present genera
ton an old fort with its small iron
grated windows and tower, more than
q palace, ,-on March 81 lsl0. For
several years service In the army OF
Italy, his father. Ludiyico Peecl,-
gained distinction, and his mother,
Anna Prospect Beozi, claimed llneal
descent from the last of her great trl-
bunes- the iIlusTious Cola de Rlenzi.
and through her no doubt was derived
all of the Pope's grand intellectual
talents.
His youthful years were spent under
the roof Of the palace, where father
SalYagni, the last,of his school mates,
s5iu resides and delights In relating
how Ser Nino, was the most dar-
inc mountain climber and best rife
shooter of that day, but thas, over
much study ruined has aim and Wnen.
he visited Csfpineto the last time. IN
September 1857. he could not hit
sparrcw On tree.
Never of 81 robust frame, he showed
.much fondness for outdoor sports
and spent much time on horseback,
making friends with every one, and
early exhibiting that rare amaablllty
and strength of character which have
always been his Distinguishing char
acteristics through nearly a century OF
existence. At the age OF eight years,
ne was Sent; 60 the Jesuit College at
Vitebc. and in 1924, he became STU
dent of the college Romano, IN Rome,
where his diligent habits and mental
accomplishments placed him IN the
highest ranks, and secured Tor MN
the greatest premiums awarded by that
institution.
Notwithstanding his youth, owing to
his aptitude Of thought, he was before
his graduation often called upon by
5he faculty to assist them Ia instruct
inr in the philosophical branches.
His fathers first views for his son
were. that like himself, he should
carve q name with his sword, but ind
ing that Nino had fully resolved to
enter the priesthood, and that such
we're his mothers fondest hopes, he
cheerfully consented in this decision.
In the year 1880, he matriculated at
fhe Gregorian university, and enter
ed the college Of Noble Ecclesiastles IN
1882. Completing his educational
stndies, Pope Gregory XVI, on March
i6, 1881, appointed him domestic
Drelate and referendary Of the Segna-
tura. Cardinal Odescalchi conferred
the priestly order upon him December
%. 1887, and he was apostolic delegate
at Perugia, Benevento and Spoletra
nntil is41, when he became Governor
of Spelita. which Office he held until
Is lszs. s.sA' 49,
Pope Gregory next appointed him
archbishop Of Damietta and nuncio to
Belgium, which compelled him to re-
main in Brussels for three years. He
was proclaimed cardinal by Pope Plus
TX on Dec. l9, 1853, and on Septem-
ber I, 1877, he was appointed by the
same power, Cardinal Cameriengo On
the death Of Cardinal de Angelus. On
the death OF Pope Plus TX, February
4. 1878. he became the temporary
head of the church, and on the second
day balloting for successor to the
deceased Pope, having received ma
iority Of the votes cast by the sixty
two cardinals present at the assembly,
was declared Pope-elect, and on March
g. 1878, was crowned under the title
of pope Leo XIII, at the age of IS
years. In the same month he revived
Roman Catholic hierarchy in. Scot
land, refused to accept the income
regularly bestowed upon the Pontif
by the Italian Parliament, secluded
himself within the Vatican and ISSUED
manifestoes demanding the restoration
of the temporal power of the church.
In December, 1875, he issued an Ency-
clical condemning communists, social
ism and nihihsm, which was followed
by another in November, 1882, adding
heresy to the list.
In April, 1894, he issued an appeal
TO England for the reunion of Chris
tendon which met with no response.
He celebrated his sixtieth anniversary
of his first mass on February 13, 1898.
and in May, 1899, set the year 1900,
as one of universal jubilee. On March
2, 1900, he celebrated his ninetieth
birthday.
In taking the measure of Pope Leo
XIII, he will rank in history, as
scholar, diplomat, statesman, author
ana Pontif, among the most illus
trious occupants of the chair OF st.
Peter, and it may truthfully be said
that the church of Rome never enjoy
ed the administration of one in au-
thority more thoroughly remarkable
in every sense Of the word.
The college of cardinals numbers
seyeasy when there are no vacancies.
OF these twenty-five reside IN Rome,
and thirty-two cardinals are Of Italian
birth, one of whom will be
the next Pope without much
doubt. There are six cardinals
spoken of in connection with
the succession: Rampolla, Poroc-
-; A-o1J;a Vannutelli. Syampa and