BIOGRAPHICAL AND INTIMATE IMPRESSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 172, 21 July 1903, Page 5

BIOGRAPHICAL AND INTIMATE IMPRESSIONS.

Pope Leo XIII., after completing the 25th year of his Pontificate, has passed away quietly at the Vatican. Only once before in the long line of Popes has this term been exceeded, and that was in the case of Leo XIII.'s immediate predecessor. Pius IX. was elected to the papal throne in 1846, and he ruled till 187S, a period of 32 years. He was in the vigour of his manhood, 54 years old, when he became Pope, but his successor had nearly reached the age allotted by the Psalmist when the choice of the cardinals fell upon him. It may safely be assumed that nobody could have reasonably hoped on February 20, 1878, that the frail old man would live to see the nineteenth century out, and to continue in the new century, with all his mental faculties unimpaired, in the work of governing the great religious community of Avhich he was the heai. A few months ago he completed the 93rd year of his age. In the same month 00 years had elapsed since he was consecrated a bishop, and thus there was the unique spectacle of a Pope celebrating within a month's space his 93rd birthday, his diamond jubilee as bishop, and his silver jubilee as Pope. Leo XIII. saw wonderful changes on the face of the earth. In the year of his birth, 1810, Pius VII. was an exile from Rome, the Quirinal having been seized by the French in the previous year, and the Pope carried away into captivity. He lived to see another Pope, Pius IX., driven from Rome in '48, and only brought back two years later by the

French to lose in 1870 the temporal sovereignty i'or which he had contended so strenuously. For a generation up to the time of his death the aged Pontiff was what his sympathisers called a prisoner in the Vatican, whilst Rome is the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Of sovereigns who were reigning in Europe in 1878, several still occupy their thrones, but the oldest of these, Christian IX. of Denmark, is eight years younger than the dead prelate. The Emperor Francis Joseph, who succeeded to the Austrian throne in the year which saw Pius IX. escape from Rome in the disguise of an attendant on the Bavarian Minister, is twenty years younger than Leo. In the 93 years of the Pope's life four rulers of the United Kingdom and four of Russia lived and reigned and died. France had , been in turn an empire, a kingdom, a republic, an empire, and again a republic. Prussia, which under Frederick, William 111. and IV., was an inconsiderable item in European politics, became, under the reigns of William I. and his two successors, the head of a great confederation. The Grand Old Man of Roman Catholic Christendom had the benefit of this great experience, made more valuable to him by the fact that, though he himself was never a temporal sovereign, he was enabled by his agents throughout the world to get at the inner truth of events which seemed perhaps inexplicable to those who had no such sources of information. The intellectual activities which the Pope displayed, combined with his vast expeidence, rendered him noteworthy. Relieved of the care of governing the principality of the Church he felt himself free in a sense, unknown to his predecessors to' make his influence felt in the world at large. His life was passed in pastoral and diplomatic pursuits, lightened by indulgence in scholarly tasks. Violence and he were strangers, not as in the case of the two predecessors we have named, to whom it fell to be the objects of personal attacks. A very interesting account of the daily routine of the Pope in the later years of his life is that given by his valet, published in the "Review of Reviews." We make the following extracts: — It is a few minutes before six, Out-

side the room is standing the man who more than any other is in closest contact J with the sleeping Pontifi". This is the i Chevalier Pio Centra, a man unknown to fame, but well kuown in the Vatican as the Pope's valet. It is his duty to call the Pope of a morning at six o'clock. Punctually at that hour he enters the apartment, and rouses the sleeper. The Pope is a light sleeper, and is often awake and at work before Pincio enters the room. The moment the Pope rises Pincio partly dresses him, and the Pope offers his first daily prayer. Then, returning from the prie-dieu, he surrenders himself to his valet, who brushes his hair am), shaves him. The room is fragrant with eau-de-cologne, which the Pope uses in his ablutions. Then, his toilet being complete, the Pope, followed by his valet, passes into a small apartment adjoining his bedroom. The altar is raised only one step; on either side of the case in which the pyx is kept are some marvellously artistic candelabra and two statues of saints. The Pope says mass slowly, with deep reverence, his valet, Pinicio. acting as acolyte. The Pope then attends another mass, which is said by the chaplain on duty for the day. This is his thanksgiving.

Mass having been said, the Pope breakfasts on a little chocolate or cafe au lait, the milk of which comes from a Hock o* goats presented to him by the villagers of his native place. They are penned within the myrtle hedges of the Vatican gardens, and are great favourites of the Pope, who often goes to them and talks familiarly with their shepherd. Breakfast over Cardinal Itampolla arrives at eight o'clock, and the business of the working day begins. After Cardinal llampolla has gone the Pope goes out for a short walk in the Vatican gardens. Leo is much interested in horticulture, and does not forget to admonish the gardener when the plants under his charge are not prospering. M. Narfon tells us that on one occasion when some ivy was languishing and the gardener excused himself on the ground that the soil was bad the Pope replied: "You don't know what you are talking about, or else you think we believe everything you are pleased to tell us," after which admonition the Pope gave the gardener a regular lecture, which made him exclaim as soon as the Pontiff's back was turned, "He can teach everyone,, from the Cardinals to the gardeners. You can't get over him."

After his morning stroll through the gardens the Pope returns to his reception room, where he receives the functionaries who several times a week have to report to him on the business of the household and the general government of the Church. It is like a sovereign receiving his Ministers. The prefect of the apostolic palaces comes, and the major domo of the household, and the prefect of the various congregations and others. After their business is despatched, visitors are received who have been granted a private audience. The Pope sits throughout; the visitor bows on entering, he bows again in the centre of the apartment, and bows a third time when he kisses the Pope's slipper. The visitor remains standing, and when the audience is finished he walks backwards to the door. This ceremonial is only insisted upon in the ease of Catholics. The only rule laid down for heretics was made by the Pope himself, who, when he was asked how a distinguished American Protestant should comport himself, replied, "Tell him to do just as if he were being received by the President of the United States."

In this way the morning fa passed. At 2 o'clock the Pope dines. He always dines alone. His dinner consists of a consomme and eggs. On n> re occasions he takes a little meat. He drinks claret, which has been supplied for years past by some pious nuns in the Gironde. He eats with great rapidity, and is very glad if he is permitted to take some salad, mixed with plenty of vinegar. This, however, is forbidden him by his doctors, much to Leo's regret. But even Popes sometimes cannot resist the temptations of the palate, and a few months ago the Pope was taken so ill in the middle of the night that the doctor had to be summoned in haste, when his patient humbly confessed that he had broken hia instructions and eaten the coveted salad. Sometimes when he is bolting his frugal meal, he asks his secretary to sit at table, but it is only for conversation, and not to share the meal. Dinner done, the Pope takes a short nap, after which lie is taken for a drive in the gardens.

He steps into a special chair, and is carried by his footman to the garden railings or to the gate of Paul V., where his carriage awaits him. It is either a black landau with red wheels or a large, varnished wood vehicle, both of which are upholstered in white damask. It is drawn by a pair of large black Roman horses. The Pope's stud only consists of 12 horses, 4 of which are for his own use. There are besides two mules which are used for carrying relics, etc., sent by the Pope to the Roman Churches. When the Pope has seated himself in his chair the Pontifical procession is formed. It consists of two Swiss Guards carrying halberds, and two Noble Guards preceding the chair bearers, aftev whom come an officer of the Noble Guard and a Chamberlain. The procession generally crosses the Raphael rooms, map galleries, tapestry and candelabra salons, and reaches the garden by the grand starrease of the museum, where the Pope, before getting into his carriage, throws a red mantle over his shoulders, and puts on a hat of the same colour. The carriage, with its two footmen standing behind in black coats and high hats to match the coachman, is escorted by mounted Noble Guards. Any person accompanying the Pope sits opposite, not beside him. The drive, which usually lasts two hours, is always taken in the same place, through a magnificent avenue of plane trees and oaks, extending from the Angelica Gate to the Cavalleggeri gate. Whilst driving the Holy Father reads, or talks to those who accompany him. Sometimes he gets out of the carriage and walks for a few moments with the help of a gold-headed cane. To be sure, he ex n manage without this cane, and he displays a certain amount of pride in so doing, and even walking more briskly when there are rumours in Rome that the Pope is ill.

When he is brought back he is carried to his apartments in the same portentina, and passing with light and rapid step through a red velvet door, he enters his study. No sooner is he seated than the electric bell sounds, and the secretary, Mgr. Angeli, rejoins his master. The study where the Pope works is a simple room, containing an official desk under a crucifix, and a few chairs upholstered in red stuff. At a little distance from the desk is his armchair, and a small table covered with green velvet. As the Pope sits at work you can hear the twittering of the singing birds, which are kept in a cage behind the hangings. At 10 o'clock the Pope sups. He then tell 3 his ro3ary in company with the prelates on duty in his private chapel.

After thi3 has been done the newspapers are read to him, having been carefully prepared for his reading by his secretary, Mgr. Angeli, who marks and annotates the passages most likely to interest the Pope. Long after midnight the electric light burns bright in his room, and he often does not go to bed until one in the morning. Even then, after he has dismissed his secretary, Mgr. Angeli is never sure that he may not be waked in the few hours reserved for sleep in order that lie may attend his master and write at his dictation. M. Narfon says: "Leo XIII. sleeps very little, and as he cannot endure prolonged inactivity, he frequently fills up the time of waiting for Morpheus by wooing the Muse, or thinking gut some encyclical whereof the first sheets are lying on his writing table. Perhaps his ideas crystallise into some formula which he fears he may forget before morning. His hand instinctively moves to the electric button close to his bed. Three minutes after Mgr. Angeli arrives, half asleep, resignedly seats himself at his table, and writes from the master's dictation a set of Latin verses or one of those wonderful compositions that carry the bread of truth from Rome to the uttermost parta of the earth."

To come to purely biographical detail of the life of this truly remarkable man, Leo XIII. was the son of Count Ludovico Pecci. He was born at Carpineto, in the diocese of Anagni, in the State of the Church, March 2, 1810. and was baptised by the names of Vincenzo and Gioaechino. In 1818 his father sent him, along with his elder brother Giuseppe, to the Jesuit College of Viterbo. There he was taught grammar and humanities under Father Leonardo Giribaldi, a man of great learning, until the year 1824, when, on his mother's death, he was sent to Rome to the care of an uncle, and tool-; up his residence in an apartment of the palace of the Marchese Muti. In November, 1824, lie entered the schools of the Collegio Romano, then restored to the Jesuits, and had for his teachers Fathers Ferdinando Mmmi and Giuseppe Bonvicini, both distinguished for eloquence and virtue of no common order, j Three years later he began to study ma- ! thematics. He had for instructors Father Giovanbattis-ta Pianciani, nephew of Leo XII., and Father Andrea Carafa, a mathematician of renown. Young Pecci signalised himself by his assiduity and talent, and in 1828 got the first premium in Phy si co-Chemistry, and the first accessit in mathematics. Then he passed to the course of philosophy. While thus engaged he was entrusted, despite his youth, to give repetitions in philosophy to the pupils of the German College. In his third year of philosophy he sustained a public disputation, and obtained the first premium (1S30). The following year, being then 21 years old> he obtained the laurea in philosophy. Even in Viterbo young Pecci was noticed for his ability and for his perfect propriety of conduct. In Rome he seemed entirely devoted to study, and took no part in entertainments, ccnversazioni, amusements, or plays. At the age of 12 or 13 he wrote Latin, prose or verse, with facility. Having 'entered the College of Noble Ecclesiastics, the Abbate Pecci frequented the schools of the Roman University to learn canon and civil law. Pecci and the Duke Sisto Riario Sforza (afterwards Cardinal Archbishop of Naples) were the two brilliant youths who eclipsed all the rest of their companions in study. Cardinal Antonio Sala took much interest in Pecci, and assisted him with advice and instruction. Becoming a doctor in laws, he was made by Pope Gregory XVI. a domestic prelate and Referendary of the Segnatura, March 16, 1837. Cardinal Carlo Odescalchi, famous for his humility in renouncing the purple to enter the Society of Jesus, gave Pecci holy orders in the chapel of St. Stanislas Kostka. in S. Andrea al Quirinale, and on December 23, ]837, conferred the priesthood upon him in the chapel of the Vicariate. Gregory XVI. bestowed upon him the title of Prothonotary Apostolic, and appointed him Apostolic Delegate at Benevento, Perugia, and Spoleto in succession. In these important posts he ruled with firmness and prudence, and while at Benevento, he, by his energy, put a stop to the brigandage which had before infested that district. In 1843 he was again promoted by Pope Gregory XVI.. being sent as Nuncio to Belgium, and on January 17 in that year he was created Archbishop of Damietta, in partibus infidelium, to qualify him for his office of Nuncio. He remained in Brussels for three years, and was then nominated Bishop of Perugia on January 19, 184G, about four months previous to the death of Gregory XVI. He was created and proclaimed a Cardinal by Pius IX. in the Consistory on December 19, 1853. He was a member of several of the Congregations of Cardinals—among them those of the Council, of Rites, and of Bishops and Regulars. In September, 1877, he was selected by Pope Pius IX. to fill the important office of Cardinal Camerlengo of the Roman Church, which post had become vacant by the death of Cardinal de Angelis. In that capacity, after the death of the late Pope (February 7, 1878), he acted as Head of the Church in temporal matters, made the arrangements for the last solemn obsequies of the Pontiff, received the Catholic Ambassadors, and . superintended the preparations for the conclave. Sixty-two Cardinals attended the Conclave, which was closed in the Vatican on Monday. February 18, 1878, and the Cardinal Camerlengo was made Pope by the acclamation of all. The news was officially 1 proclaimed to the outside world at a i $*irter-past one o'clock from the galj lery of St. Peter's, when it was announced'that His Holiness had assumed the name of Leo XIII. On March 3, he was ! crowned in the Sistine Chapel. At the lend of 1887 the Pope celebrated his jubilee, commemorative of his having been 50 years in the priesthood, on which, oe casion he received congratulations from all parts of the world. The Queen of England sent the Duke of Norfolk as hei special envoy with valuable gifts and ar address of congratulation. In June 1891, the Pope issued a,n important encyclical letter on "Labour," which presented the Papacy in a new and liberal light. Later His' Holiness made the French Clergy recognise the Republic, the result being that many hitherto disaffected monarchists accepted the present order of things in France. On February 19, 1893, His Holiness celebrat ed his episcopal jubilee, and held a State celebration at St. Peter's before immense crowds of pilgrims. In October. 1894, the Pope summoned a conference of the Patriarcks of the Greek and other Eastern churches at the Vatican, but the gathering was without results. In April, 1895. he addressed a letter to the English people, urging them to return to unity with the Church of Rome. The pontifical jubilee of His Holiness was inaugurated by a solemn service and the celebration of mass in the Papal Chapel of St. Peter's on March 3, 1902.