Bisbee daily review., 1903-07-28
AUTHORITY A OF THE POPE,

tract particular attention to the hee of the Roman Catholic church, and his authority. Probably no pope within the history of the Roman church mas ruled with greater urbanity and lib- erality, than has the beloved pontif who for quarter of a century gov erned the affairs of his ecclesiastical domain. Pope Leo was a most woE derful executive. Diplomatic, always suave, while the character of the man was so serene always, even when the extraordinary affairs of his charge de manded physical effort that would have broken down the constitution of almost any man, however endowed with physical strength. long before he had served faithfully his church, as Leo has done, for over twenty-five years
 Regarding the authority of the ope, it may be said that he holds jul sdic- tion oyer the entire church body indT vidually and collectively. The pope
 
 is authority on all the faith I .omul- gated from papal headquarters, and in defining a doctrine of faith it Is held by the church that his definition of such is infallible, and that he is sup posed to be incapable of error.
 The pope is the supreme legislator in the church. and can interpret, mod ify and and dispense in all matters of ecclesiastical law. He is also the supreme judge of the faithful, whether of the hierarchy or the laymen, and can hear all appeals from any source whatever whether major cases or ap- peals from lower tribunals. The pope is the supreme administrator having the power to watch over di- vine services. and to remove, appoint or transfer bishops. He is the su- preme supervisor, and receives regu- larly reports and relations from bishops and other ecclesiastical au- thorities within the limits of their jurisdictions. He may also send agents to represent his person and authority before churches, or even before the temporal rulers of any of the nations of the earth.
 It is claimed that the authority cf the pope is vested in that person by divine right, because he is held to be the legitimate successor of St. Peter, and as such is the chief bishop of tue world, the visible and ministerial head of the whole church, whose invisible and eternal head is Jesus Christ.
 The origin of the temporal power of the pope occurred in the sixth cen tury. under GreEc-- the Great. Ne tional and religious feelings contrib uted to its growth in the first half Of the eighth century, 1l1 in the latter half of that same century the papacy entered the list of European states by the formal donations of Pepin anl Charlemagne.
 Under various forms and with vary ing boundaries the papal states existed through the middle ages as a legit- innate growth, and their pacific possession through twelve centuries was not seriously disturbed nor dis puted in the propagation of the Chris tian faith and culture.
 The violent usurpation of Napoleon 1 was undone by the congress of Vi enna. in 1915. In 1860 the Piedmont csc government encroached on the estates of the church. and in 1870 they were incorporated into the kingdom cf Italy Nevertheless no pope has ever recognized the temporal power cf that nation, nor accepted the guaran- +ees by which the Italian kingdom un dertook to regulate its internal rela- tions with the papacy.
 The ordinary administration of the affairs of the papacy are carried on by agents of the pope, through his personal direction, whom he employs and who form part of his government.
 It will thus be seen that the power of the pope is far beyond that of any other ruler of men in the world, when it is considered that he has universal spiritual as well as temporal power over every detail within the scope of the church. From this great power, the necessity of careful selection to succeed Pope Leo by the college of 'ardinals is most important one. No one can foresee what the results may be, should that judgment not be such as to combine the elements which composed the character of the late and lamented Leo. He was re markable man. and if his successor is but able to follow in the footsteps of the man who has just paid the pen atty which comes to all minkind. the growth sf the Catholic church is assured.