Evening journal., 1903-07-21

sition In the councils Of the church,
was entrusted with his education,
young Pecci being sent at the age of
years to the Jesuit College at Viber-
bo, where he remained until his 14th
year When he was lS years old he
secured the first prize for chemistry
and physics. His aptitude for natural
science. however. in no way interfersd
with his taste for literature and clas-
sical studies, aud even in those early
days he was remarkable for the ele-
gance and purity of his Latin. which
subsequently found such notable ex-
preston not only in his encyclieals and
ecclesiastical work. but in the higher
plane Of poetry. lie obtained in 1881
the degree of doctor of divinity and
entered the Academy of Noble Eccle-
siastics TO study law and diplomacy
and thus qualify himself for joining
what may be termed the papal dlplo-
matte service, and became conversant
with the system of the spiritual gov
ernment.
In 1887 Joachim Pecci received the
sub-deaconate and diaconate. and on
March IA of the same year Gre
CORY XVI made him a domestic pre-
late. his first promotion. with the title
of monsignor.
On December %, 1887, be was or
dained priest by Cardinal Odescalchi,
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 Six
tus V, busted himself with the suppress
sion of brigandage.
The young ecclesiastic, in 1S43, was
called TO exercise his talents in more
important post, being consecrated
bishop of Damietta, in Partibus, and
sent to Brussels as papal nuncio. 1t
was as representative of the Vatican
in the Belgian capital that he first
gained the political insight and expert
ence which have been one of the prin-
cipal characteristics of his tenure of
the pontifical throne. Mgr. Pecci re-
mained over 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 visit to London. This was in
February, 1886. and in the same year
he was consecrated archbishop OF Pc,
rugia He continued in this position
for the S2 years which intervened be-
fore his election to the highest position
in the church, his tenure of the episco-
pate. coinciding exactly with the 32
years of the reign of Plus TX 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 Car
dinal Pecci was appointed camerlingo
of the Roman church, which gave him
chief charge of the temporalih S of
the Holy See. In this capacity it fell
to his task to make the necessary ar
rangements for the conclave for the
election of a new pope after the death
of Plus TX, in February, 1878. The
conclave lasted SO hours, and at the
third ballot Cardinal Pecci was elect
ed supreme pOntiff and took the name
of Leo XIII, after the famous Pope
Leo X. for whom he had a great ven
Grafton. He was crowned on March 8
with the tiara, or triple crown the
ceremony taking place not in st. Pc
ters. where. all his predecessors but
one had been crowned since 1865, but
in the Sistine chapel in the Vatican,
where the cOnclave had been held.
Public opinion regarded the new
pope as characterized above all things
by a love of peace, and It was expected
that, departing from that non possu-
mus policy of his predecessor. he would
speedily conclude a compromise with
the Italian government, and thus put
an end to the antagonlsm between the
Vatican and the Quirinal. But the
world was soon undoceived. and in his
first encyclical. promulgated at the
Easter following his accession. Pope
Leo XIII uahcsitatingly maintained
his dciaand for the restoration of the
temporal power Of the papacy, nor did
he ever roccdc iscm the position then
taken up.
The principal events during M
reign as pope we're as oilows'
Revived CatholiNrr 'ohy IN SCOT
land. March arch T. X. BRrs communism
.oaia1i.n aaeyIl''ai T. c1AHg December ss
1o7 1e7s '7',' S. RossEI
Encyc4- ,eresy. socialism,
Novcmbi
Recoet Of Italy October 2
1883. GO
EncvcI ~'demning liberalism.
Ce,a, lden Jubilee 1887.
CSnnn and jubilee. 1888.
slOO& socialism and labor
J. avis , ia Stockss
grees sr ss episcopal jubilee. Febru-
liam De
lenee peal to England for reunion
5dfbs -T.ndom. April 4. 1894.
with Eglted Goth anniversary Of his
40 S'S, n aRss, February 13, 1898.
road red 1900 a year OF universav
sntty- stdy OiMay II, 1899.
Wen INeonsistory and created II new
, Two No q IS, June 10, 1899.
and p ated Goth birthday. March 2
eS I of ia