Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-08-08
Catholic World Rejoices With
Plus X, Who Fills the Chair
of Peter.
Has Accomplished Much For
Christianity In Eleven
Years Reign.
Admired For His SANITY Life.
His High Purposes and
Courage.
LOVES EVERY HUMAN BEING

Last Tuesday was the occasion Of
great joy to the Catholic and Chris
tian world, who united in prayer for
the Holy Father Pope Plus x. On
August a. 1903. Cardinal Macchi
announced that the Conclave of
Cardinals had chosen Joseph Sarto,
Archbishop of Mantua and Patriarch
of Venice, to fill the Chair of Peter.
When the new Pope came out on
the balcony of the Basilica of st.
Peter to acknowledge the acclama-
tion of thousands, people saw a
| simple man, already growing old,
standing there with humility that
was accentuated all the more by the
| Pontifical costume which he wore.
The extraordinary thing was his ap-
pearance there at all, for Plus X.
at the very hour of his ascendancy
had broken a precedent by appearing
so soon after the announcement of
| his election. 1t had been customary
| for the newly elected Pope to take
few hours rest before presenting
himself to the multitude. But Plus
x was averse to ignoring the COM
| fort of even the least of his follow
ers.
Chosen by conclave of Cardinals,
Plus X. was not a haphazard selec-
tion. The choice of Joseph Sarto,
the son of peasant parents, really
dates back to the days when Leo
XIII. began to choose his Cardinals.
For Leo, though a scion of a noble
| family, was also the descendant of
| Bionzi and he chose his Cardinals
| from a prebian rather than an aris-
| tocratic stock. 1t was this attitude
that made possible the election of
Joseph Sarto, the peasant. the man
of the people, the first Pope of
humble origin since the time Of
sixtus ", the Pope who had been a
swineherd.
There has been nothing spectac-
ular in the Pontificate of Plus x.
Contrary to expectations, he did
not depart from the policies of his
predecessor, but rather confirmed
them. But he gave the color of his
own personality to those policies.
Leo had been a statesman because
the times called for statesman. He
Hdu Deeu DIT lHt NdIlOuo GOuIlS VI
Europe and possessed the brilliancy,
polish and diplomacy of an ambassa-
dor and a noble. But he had always
shown himself priest. The courts
we're changed with the times and
the people were asserting themselves.
Labor was sitting on the legislative
and the administrative bench. A
peoples Pope" was needed. The
late cynieism of the mobiles had
given away to the materialism of the
peasants. A new policy had to be
dovetailed into the old. A new pro-
gramme had to be arranged. Plus
X. set about the work with no flour
ish or fanfare, and the whole world
konws how much he has accom-
plished in the eleven years he has
ruled the Christian world. The
work of the Biblical Commission
alone would stamp him as one OF
the really great Popes 1t shows
that the peasant Pope is also the
Pope OF scholars. His dealings with
France and Italy evidence the hand
of the great diplomat and his decree
on frequent communion has brought
him down to talk to little children
In a language they can understand.
He has truly been the peoples Pope,
the Pope of all the people.
The world has learned to respect
and love Plus X. Even those who
honestly differ with him In matters
of religion and policy admire his
sanity life. his high purposes and
fearless courage. His big. Affection
ate heart, embracing in It's love every
human being. has attracted the most
worldly, The first Characteristic
that strunck the world was that in
becoming Pope Plus did not cease
TO be a man.
Then the world, Catholic and
Protestant, found that beneath that
peasant sympathy there was a SUI
preme regard for his high Office and
the sacred work entrusted to his
hands. They found more than
peasant-he was Pope. With the
courage of his predecessors he de-
Tended the prerogatives of the Holy
See and guarded well the faith COM
mitted TO him Plus X. is no
weakling. He has a big heart. but
also strong will. In difficulties
that would test the genius OF the
greatest diplomat he has guided the
church with a masters hand. The
enemies of the church found In him
one who could smile with all the
love OF the peasant OF the Northern
Italian hills. but could also strike
with the strength of the Great
Jehovah. whose personal representa-
tive he Is.
Our Holy Father is In the evening
Of his life. May God grant that It
be a long summer evening. The
church could III afford to lose Plus
TX. The world would suffer In his
death Our fervent prayer on the
eleventh anniversary OF his elevation
TO the Office of Vicar OF Christ Is
that God may spare his precious life
to us for many years to continue his
great work TO "restore all things In
Christ"