The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-21
Pope Leo XIII.

Fupt LEU Ailfs
 The grand old man who had seryeJA as the head of the great church the reputed days of St. Peter and three months besides, is dead at the snrpris- ing age of ninety-three Many had hoped that the man who had lived ab- stemiously and plainly would round ont full century, but few years more or less were of little value to Leo XIII.
 His work had been completed, and he was awaiting the final summons when it came His work will prove far-reaching and important History may not rank the dead pontiff with Gregory or Gregory VII, but neither of the Gregorys raised the papacy to such spiritual height as Leo did. He Inherited the loss of temporal power. He could not regain that; no pope will ever be able to regain it, because such a gain would be an irreparable injury to fifty millions of Italians, constituting one of the great powers of Europe But by rare tact, wisdom and liberality Lea XIII advanced the spiritual power and influence of the church to point never before reached by It. And if there is one lesson more than another to be drawn from the dead pontiff's career it is that temporal sovereignty has noth- ing whatever to do with the real work of the church, and the quicker the shadow is given up the better. The papacy is vastly stronger today than it was in the days of temporal power vastly stronger than it was in the hands of the tactless Plus TX. All thls is due to the good sense, the wisdom and the unfailing shrewdness and per sonal magnetism of the grand old man who lies dead within tae walls of the vatican.
 Fortunate will the church be If it se- cures as broad and tactful man as his successor. A majority of the sacred college consists of Italians, and beyond reasonable doubt an Italian will be chosen. Cardinal Priest Satolll, who spent several years In America, may be elected. The leading candidate is, however. Cardinal Rampolla, who has long conducted the state or diplomatic affairs of ,ne church. 1t matters little who the successor IS, provided he be deeply imbued with the ideas and policy of Leo XIII, and. will faithfully endeavor to follow in his footsteps; for the church and the rest of the world do not want any departure from tAe policy and methods of the illustri ous prelate who lies dead under the shadow of St. Peters.
 The whole Christian world mourns the loss of the most liberal pope in the entire history of the church. Tributes have come from almost every denom- ination, all bea ing testimony to hls unfalling kindness and generous i'm pulses. The Methodists assembled at Ocean Grove eulogized the dying pope, and the warm sympathy of all Christendom cheered and comforted his dying hours No greater tribute could be paid him.
 Death had for the grand old pontiff no terrors. He was at once intellect ual and saintly, with a marvellous in- dividuality. He was emphatically a man in touch with the world-eyer a man of affairs abreast of the times in which he lived He was also poet, but never recluse. He lived in the world. and he unceasingly strove to elevate his great office. and his sue cess is not now questioned. No spir itual ruler had more influence in the civilized world, none saw more clearly the effects of modern movements. He never concealed his sympathy for the humble and the down-trodden, but ne saw at the same time the need of order and society. A great and orig inal personality has passed away, but the story of his kindliness will long keep his memory in the hearts of peo- pie in all churches and all countries.