Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-01
TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY PoPEs

Washington. Feb. 1.-THE new Pope
who will be elected In Roma THE week
will be tho 2G0tb in the line descending
from Peter. Leo XIII considered that
hs was the 263rd Pope. but since his
death fiye names have been discarded
from the list owing 10 the doubt OF
their being authentic.
The Popes have sprung from all
walks In life. Sixtus v herded sheep,
Leo X came from q family who ware
masters OF Florence because of their
riches, Adrian VI was the son OF
ship carpenter, Paul v was o noble,
SIxtus ~ was waif, and Plug x was
peasant The reign OF Plus TX was
the longest OF any Pope, and that OF
Boniface VI was the shortest. The
former ruled for over 81 years, and
the latter but 10 days.
Volumes have been written about
the personalities and eccentricities Of
| the Popes. Sixtus v was so aggres-
tivo that he changed the fact OF Rome
and the world in five years. Plus TX
was such chronic speech-maker
that he delivered All addresses In a
little more than four years an
average of two week. Gregory XVI
was hard-headed and opposed the con-
struction OF railways because he be-
llleved that mechanical industry would
deprive many people OF their means
OF livelihood. Macaulay says thai
Leo x occupied himself with canoes
Jewels, antiques and new sauces
Nicolas V was fond OF books and had
q passion for building. Leo XIII wal
Lcold, calculating and scholarly, and
accomplished much by his masterfu
diplomacy. The private character O
some OF the Popes has been assailed
particularly that Of Alexander VI, WHIT
was in power when the news Of Co
lumbus' discovery Of America reached
Rome.
Army Lost in st. Peters.
There are so many churches II
Rome that 70 visit them ~ the rat
OF one day would require more thai
, a years time. These vary in siz
from the small chapel capable Of &C
, comnodating only a few persons, Z
, great ST. Peters which is 80 large tina
: once when the Roman Army wen
there to attend mass, the assemble
! rank and file fell so far short OF ~
I. ing the vast edifice that when tn
: general arrived ne looked about hir
= hastily and concluded that the arm
Y was late. There are 10000 person
I In Rome who devote their whole tim
to ecclesiastical matters.
u st. Peters not only dwarfs all tn
:. other churches OF Rome, but ranks g
u the giant edifice of the world.
g famous author Ikened the surpris
n occasioned by the first view Of 1
e towering proportions TO the feelir
one would have Il he met man Z
: feet tall. Figures and comparison
can only partially portray the re
a magnitude OF this colossus. 1t cove
:, six acres. It's main aisle Is an eight
of a mile long. and its dome Is
twelfth OF a mile high. II st. Peter
were flooded the largest ship TIL
I, sails the ocean could steam up II
!, central aisle and It's masts wou
= scarcely reach the top OF the MIG
:. altar. II it's capacity were taxed
:, the utmost a congregation OF 500
!. people might assemble within
!. walls. and ZOO 900 more could. wa
outside within the enclosure OF u
~ colonnades. In the lofty dome the
- Is a mosaic Of st. Luke with a pen
y his hand. From the great height Il
,e pen seems Of ordinary size, but
reality IL Is eight feet long.