The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-21
CAREER OF THE LATE PONTIFF

ecclesiastics to study law and diplomacy
and thus qualify himself for joining what
may be termed the Papal diplomatic serv-
ice and become conversant with the system
of the spiritual government. 1t is from the
ranks of this official body that, In these
days. a new Pontiff is almost invariably
chosen.
In 1882 Joachim Pecci received the sub
daconate and diaconate, and on March IA
of the same year Gregory XVI made him
domestic prelate, his first promotion, with
the title of monsignor. On Dec 70, 1887, he
was ordained priest by Cardinal Odescalchi.
saying his first mass in the chapel of St.
Stanislaus at the Jesuit nOvitiate of St.
Andrea. Early in 1888 Mgr. Pecci was named
governor of the papal province of Bene-
vento, and. like Sixtus V, busted himself
with the suppression of brigandage.
WHILE HE WAS GOVERNOR.
In connection with this work the follow
ing story was told of Monsignor Pecci:
A certain marquis called one day to pro-
test against what he considered the inter-
ference of the Governor and informed the
latter that he was just starting for Rome
to procure his recall.
Have you considered the step well, mar
quis?' asked Monsignor Pecci.
Eyes, monsignor." said the other, land
I'm going at once"
To this the Governor rejoined: "Resolu-
tions of this kind should be well consid-
cred at leisure. You Will DO me the nOnOr
of staying here for the present?"
That same night the marquis's castle was
surrounded and twenty-eight brigands of
whom he was patron and chief were ar
From Benevento Monsignor Pecci was
transferred to the governorship of Perugia,
where he remained for year and half.
The young ecclesiastic III lS43 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. 1t was representative of the
Vatican in the Belgian capital that he first
gained the political insight and experience
which have been one of the principal char
acteristics of his tenure of the pontifcal
throne Monsignor Pecci remained over
three years in Belgium. and on his recall
to Italy was decorated with the grand cor
don of the Order of Leopold.
After leaving Brussels the nuncio paid a
visit to London. This was in February,
| 1896 and in the same year he was conse-
| Grated archbishop of Perugia. He continued
| in this position for the thirty-two years
| which interviewed before his election TO the
| highest position in the church, his tenure
| of the episcopate coinciding exactly with
! the thirty-two years of the reign OF
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 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 un-
noticed. and in 1850 Mgr Pecci was elevated
| to the dignity of cardinal priest.
ELECTED POPE.
At the consistory held in 1877 Cardinal
| Pecci was appointed camerlingo of the
Roman Church. which gave him chief
charge of the temperatures of the Holy
See. In this capacity it fell to his task
to make the necessary arrangements for the
conclave for the election Of a new Pope
| after the death of Plus TX, in February
1878 The conclave lasted thirty-six hours
and at the third ballot Cardinal Pecci was
| elected Supreme Pontiff and took the name
of Leo XIII, after the famous Pope Leo X
| at whose jubilee he had assisted as simple
student He was crowned on March will
| the tiara, or triple crown. the ceremon,
| taking place, not in St Peters, where al
his predecessors but one had been crowned
| since 1866. but in the Sistine chapel in tbs
| Vatican. where the conclave had been held
| Public opinion regarded the new Pope
| as characterized above all things by love
| of peace and il was expected that. depart
ing from that nonpossumus policy or his
| predecessor. he would speedily conclude Z
| compromise with the Italian government
| and thus put an end to the antagonism be
| tween the Vatican. and the Quirinal- Eu
the world was soon undecefved, ana. In MI
first encyclical, promulgated at the Eastel
following his accession, Pope Leo XIII un
| aesitatfnRly maintained his demand for I'M
! restoration OF the temporal power OF tn
| papcy nor did he ever recede from tn
position then taken up.
At the same time the policy OF the homal
curia certainly underwent . deyelo2ment y