The Irish standard., 1903-07-25
Leo XIII Has Passed
ST. ~ Is. 50,
-: Into Life EternaI.
Continued from LIST page.)

The election of the two hundred and
siXty-third Pope occurred us soon as
the Cardinals could be summoned for
the Sacred College. On February Is,
1878, the conclave of 60 Cardinals as
sembled at the Vatican, according to
custom, and prayerfully set about the
selection of the next head of the
Roman Church. One ballot was taken
each day, after which every Cardinal
retired to a separate cell and passed
the intervening time until again sum-
moned, "a hours later, to the Sacred
College. These hours We're spent in
meditation and prayer and invoking
Divine guidance. The first ballot gave
Cardinal Pecci 10 votes, the rest being
divided among many other candidates.
The second ballot, taken OH February
49,, showed 81 votes, and his election
was assured on the following day,
February 20, 1878, when he received
A votes. The result was announced
with all solemnity, and Cardinal Pecci
arose from his knees Sublime POntiH
of the Catholic world.
Taking the title of Leo MIL, he was
crowned in the Sistine Chapel, that
wonder shop Of architectural and
pictorial art, OH March 3, 1878, being
one day older than 6S years. 1t is not
generally known among non-Catholics
that the choice of Sublime POntiff
can be made from any branch Of the
Catholic Church. 1t is not necessary
that the candidate he Cardinal. A
parish priest hermit of the desert,
OF even a laymal, if he be deemed
worthy, is eligible for election by the
Sacred College This principle makes
the Catholic Church the most democrat
ic religious organization in Christen-
dom. Although Cardinal Pecci was
of noble and aristocratic family, other
Popes have risen from the lowest
social estate by their piety, humanity
and talents. New Workers still re-
member with devotion and love the
first American Cardinal, McCloskey,
who rose from the position Of a poor
boy in that city to the dignity Of a
Prince of the Catholic Church. In deal
ing with tire wonderful career Of Leo
MIL, since his coronation-a period
slightly under 24 years-we shall treat,
first, with his relations to the Church;
second, his relations to Italy and her
King, and, third, the large part he
played in European affairs and in the
progress of civilization.
Leo MIL, assembled the throne with
out any recognized temporal authority.
This was especially true in Italy,
where IL bitter feeling of hostility be-
tween the monarch and the Papal See
had been fostcrrd by Plus IN. The VAT
lean and the uuirinal not only were ut
cnmity, but the church property had
been sophisticated and the States Of the
Church had been absorbed into the
Kingdom of Italy Tile eight years
that had followed the creation of
United Italy hy G'nrilmldi. Mazzini and
Victor Emmanuel had made the italian
people drunk With liberty.
The new Pope was IL very different
man from Plus IN. He retained I'LL
his dislike for the MONARCHY that had
destroyed the temporal power of his
predecessor, but he made mis- influence
felt in European affairs Nothing has
cmanatcd from the Vatican more firm
and dignilrd than his protest against
the official celebration of the centenary
of Noltaire in the halls of the Colleyio
Romano, wherein the students had
apotheoSzcd one of ClriStiamity'S
worst enemies. With cOnSumnatc
art, the letter was not addressed to
members of the Church OF Rome alone,
but to all Christians. The pronounce
ment at once gave the new POntitf Il
standing throughout the civilized
world. But IL greater stroke was to
follow. Leo Nil. found France, Bel
GUM and Germany cut off from all
diplomatic. relations with the Vatican.
1t required nothing short of genius to
undo the effects of the policy OF his
predecessor. Cardinals and prelates
of the Old school surrounded him. Many
of them were in utter Ignorance of the
world beyond the immediate shadows
of their venerable churches and pal
aces. Their errors of Judgment had
to be cOmlate1 by patience, rather
than by force. His holiness isolated
himself by degrees from all such ad
vscrs and developed Il policy Of his
owll-one in keeping with his day and
generation He first settled grave &C.
clesiastical controversies that had an
tagonized the king and primate Of
Belgium and had Il Belgium minister
accredited to his court. Then he turn
cd to Germany, the seat of Protest
antism on the continent, and dominant
ed by one of the most masterful men
then living. Here he was opposed by
every conceivable intrigue at home
and abroad. The Italian government
desired nothing so much as a contin-
uance of the hostility between the vat
lean and Berlin Prince Bismarck
swore he'd never Ego to Canossa;"