Evening star., 1914-08-20
HUNBLY BORN, SART0
BECOMES THE P0NTFF
AFTER PULPIT FAME
Pope Was Raised to Cardinalate by
Leo XIII and Reached Supreme
Office in 1903.

1
Pope, expressed a keen desire to possess
| this little piece of cardboard which has
become for all time historic, and the
| Pope gave 1t to him.
| And referring to a cheap nickel watch
of old-fashioned make. which was the
| only timepiece carried by him, the Pope
said gravely to his interviewer:
/ 1T marked the minutes of my moth
| definite separation from the outer world.
| from Venice, space and liberty. 1t mark
| ed. as I said, all the joyous, all the
solemn moments Of my life. What jewel
| could be more precious to me?'
| ..He carried the watch fastened to
| little white sllken cord in the bright sash
! that he wore around his waist" the
/, journalist stated, continuing his nara
against the etiquette that hitherto has
| obligated the Pope. when he has wished
| to know the time, to apply to one OF his
prelates.
such pontiff as Leo XIII, for in many
ways Leo symbolzed the old order, in
carnating, as he did. the aristocratic ideal
of the scholar and the diplomat
Plus x was, as bef1tted a democratic
Pope, different in many respects from his
illustrious predecessor. Like the fisher
| man whose place he held, he found his
recreation fishing in the Vatican ponds
| rather than in writing Latin verses. To
| his saintliness of character and moral
worth, independently Of all lesser and
| worldly considerations. memory doubtless
will pay homage.
Was a Compromise Candidate.
When balloting began to choose a sue
cessor to Pope Leo XIII the name Of
Giuseppe Sarto was hardly considered
at first. AS balloting continued. however.
the roll Of votes in his favor Increased.
He was then regarded as a compromise
f-AL hal
lot, he was elected August 4. 1903. and
five days later he was crowned IN St
Peters Cathedral, Rome, with all the
magnificence and brilliance of cere-
monial that distinguishes the corona
tion Of each successor to the apostolic
throne.
From the post Of spiritual head Of gon-
doliers and peasants. work that he
loved. to. the throne in the Vatican was
the career of Giuseppe Sarto. Pope
Plus x
And he never had been ambitious to be
the head of the Catholic Church and the
successor of St. Peter. He loved the sim
pie life among his friends. his relatives
and his proteges in the parish he first
held. The grandeur, the pomp, the great
power Of the Vatican did not appeal to
him.
There was a great difference Of opinion
as to the qualifications Of Pope Plus x
for his office. His election, compro-
mise, was particularly pleasing to Aus
tria, Germany and France, and in these
countries, with the exception Of France
in recent years. he was highly commend
ed for wisdom and strength.
While at first he was referred to as
apostle. executive and reformer. in the
later years of his reign there were many
reports Of dissatisfaction among cardi-
mails and factions in the church because
of lack Of strength, Of commanding
power and iron will.
Life One Of Severe Unity.
His life had been one of fine. severe
unity. void Of accidents and selfish
thoughts: devoted entirely to the highest
and most universal interests. and in
tensely active, for his writings are acts
in themselves. To sum up in three words.
the life of a priest, a scholar and a pas
tor.
Pope Leo XIII had predicted that great
things were in store for Cardinal Sarto.
and once was heard to remark that he
would not be surprised II he should be his
successor.
Pope Plus policy was the simplest. His
election resulted because a majority OF
the cardinals had wearied OF diplomacy
and its barren results, and lonGed for
pontin who would build up the units Of
organization-that is, the dioceses they
ruled BY bishops. In France. Italy and
Spain these units were either para1yzed
| or directed ny the hostile or Indifferent
state.
/, There was a show Of life, but not such
| dioceses Of America, Canada and Ireland.
! 1t was known that Plus would desert
/ diplomacy and try to make all dioceses
as they are in English speaking coun-
tries.
That diplomacy found no place in Plus
| mind Is evidenced by many Of his acts
His action toward the French government
| was perfect in Indifference. Therefore
l ho1 all <ho nd he Don
| was out Of it.
AS to Italy. he increased the cordial un-
derstanding between church and state.
| which was not thought wise by italian
ed In an uplift of the church in Italy.
The dioceses hao been in a most deplor
able condition because Of the long con-
! fict between church and state.
| There was evidence of miserable condi-
! tons existing in the Italian emigrants.
| They have little or no instruction in their
| religion and paid no attention to 1t In this
country, on the supposition that the
Catholic religion did not exist here.
| Change Of Policy.
| The Pope pursued this matter to the
J proper outcome. He filled up vacant sees.
stirred up comfortable bishops, reformed
the seminaries for which he outlined a
| new curriculum OF studies and order
ed the teaching Of catechism all over the
world. He aimed chiefly at Italy. In
| word, he deserted diplomacy for the in
| struction and organization Of the people.
| He gave up governments to look after the
| lost sheep of the household.
Disappointed diplomats then walled
/ about his timidity. But the wailing had
no effect on the noble-hearted, simple
man who was the head Of the church.
1t is much easier to face the rulers of
| Europe on a question than the cardinals
assembled in the Sistine Chapel. But
| Pope Plus did not quail or show timidity
| when ne informed the cardinals as to his
perseverance in the lines he drew for
| himself. He was firm, brief and unruf-
fed. and made it plain that he would
| weight to favored plans Of different car
dinals Oh factions.
When the trouble between the church
and state. broke out in France and
the concordat was dropped. the world
looked to the Pope. speculating what
course he would take. What he did
seemed the only right thing. according to
| the American idea. He ignored the nation.
Before Pope Plus had been on the
| throne three years he evidenced that
young men who dreamed Of the career of
| a courtier in Rome were going to be dis
appointed. The Pope wanted bishops for
| the difficult sees, and the way for young
diplomats to promotion. It was soon ap-
| parent. was through the tiresome but
| wholesome office of goverping bishop
One great reform Pope Plus accomplished
and 1t promises to be ever remembered In
history. He proved that diplomacy in
| church matters Is a thing Of little i'm