The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-21
The Story of SaintIy Pope LeO's Life.



 Rome, July 2O.-Pope Leo XIII. was born at Carpineto, In the diocese of An agni, In the Papal states, on March ?. 1sI0, being christened under the name of Joachim Vincent, The Society of Jesus, which 1t was afterwards the first of his Pontifloate to restore to its ancient posi- ton in the councils of the church, was entrusted with his education, young Peeei being sent at the age of eight years to the Jesuit college at Vilberbo, where he remained until his fourteenth year At this time his mother died and he shortly afterwards proceeded to Rome to continue his studies at the Jesuit college in that city when he was eighteen years old
 When he was IS years old he secured the first prize for chemistry and 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 expression not only in his encyclicais and ecclesiastical work, but in the higher plane of poetry. He obtained in 1881 the degree of doctor of divinity and entered the Academy of Noble Ecciesiastics to study law and diplomacy and thus quail ifys himself for joining what may be termed the papal diplomatic service and become conversant with the system of the spiritual government. It is from the ranks of this official body that, in these days, a new pontin is almost invariably chosen.
 In 1887 Joachim Pecci received the sub deaconate and on March IA of the same VT |. 1s Ha prelate his first promotion, with the title of monsignor.
 On December 2S, 1887, he was ordained priest by Cardinal Odescalchi, saying his first mass in the chapel of St. Stanis- laus at the Jesuit Noviciate of St. An drew Early in 1888 Mgr Peeci was named Governor of the papal province of Benevento and. like Sixtus V, busied himself with the suppression of brigand- age. In connection with this work the following story was told of Mgr. Pecei; A certain marquis called one day to pro- test against what he considered the in- reference of the governor and informed the latter that he was just starting for Rome to procure his recall
 Have you considered the step we'll marquis9" asked Mgr. Pecci.
 s"Yes monsignor," said the other, "and I'm going at once."
 To this the governor rejoned: "Reso- lutions of this kind should be well con sidered 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- gands of whom he was patron and chief, were arrested or shot.
 Transferred to Perugla.
 From Benevento Mgr. Pecci was trans Iy, Of nufa where he remained for a year and a half The young ecclesiastic in 1S4S was called to exercise his talents In a more important post, being consecrated bishop of Damietta in Partibus and sent to Brussels as Papal Nuncio. It was as representative of the vatican in the Bel gian capital that he first gained the po- litical insight and experience which have been one of the principal characteristics of his tenure of the pontihcal throne.
 Mgr Pecci remained over three years in Belgium, and on his recall to Italy was decorated with the grand cordon of the order of Leopold.
 After leaving Brussels the nunclo paid visit to London. This was in Febru- ary, 1S46, and in the same year he was consecrated archbishop of Perugia He continued in thls position for thirty-two years which intervened before his elec- ton to the highest position in the church, his tenure of the Episcopate coinciding exactly with the thirty-two years of the reign of Plus K
 In his Episcopal labors the archbishop showed no less energy and zeal than he had displayed as governor of pontihcial state. Among other achievements he sue ceeded in purging the archdiocese of brigandage and at certain time all the prisons under his spiritual jurisdiction were empty. Such success did not pass unnoticed, and in 1850 Mgr. Peeci was elevated to the dignity of cardinal priest.
 Appointed camerIenso.
 At the consistory held in 1877 Cardinal