THE PONTIFF’S DISTINGUISHED CAREER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5023, 22 July 1903, Page 7

THE PONTIFF’S DISTINGUISHED CAREER.

A GREAT AMD CELEBRATED CATHOLIC,

STATESMAN AND PHILANTHROPIST.

THEE POPE’S CAREER. Leo XIII. will undoubtedly runic in history as one of tlie Brealc.it Popes who have ever occupied tha Pupal lllirono. Ho was tho last survivor of tho great European statesmen of tho .ninetoonth century. "During recent years,'’ wrote Mr Justin McCarthy in his oulogiuiu of the Pope, “Gladstone. Bismarck and Pope Leo XIII. stood high above all other living statesmen of Europe. ... I desire to judge I.co XIII. only as a .statesman, amt not sis an ecclesiastic. But notwithstanding tho statomansliip of Pope Leu, it is chiefly a a a churchman and the lirad cf a vast Christian organisation, the Catholic Church, that the occupant of the Pupal thair commanded the attention of the world. Joachim Pecci was from his ■earliest years destined for tho Church. Tho choice was largely of ills own making, for his father, Count Peed, wished that ho might ho a general, but gave way whoa ho saw that the preference of the youth was in another direction. Accordingly, at tho ago of ton, Joachim ,Pecci, who was horn on the Slid .March, 1310, sot out with his brother Joseph from their delightful home at Caipiueto, Italy, to begin their studies at the Pollego kept by tbo Jesuit fathers at ■ HIS STUDENT DAYS. At this college tho future Polio’s instructor in grammar and humanities was Father Leonard (Jirilmldi, a man of great learning, but in -tho year ISIM Joachim suffered a great blow in (ho death of his mother, and lie was then lent to Homo to tho care of an uncle.

Kostka. Two months later he was despatched as Tapal delegate to tho province ol Jioacvcuto. A PAPAL DELEGATE. Tho confidence placed in him by Gregory XVI., in sending him to JUmovonto, was not misplaced, it was Mgr. Pecci’y courageous suppression of tho brigands in that pru\ineo which first brought him into prominence, He began, M. do Marton says, in a biography of tin* Pope, “by satisfying himself Unit tho Pontifical (.mans could be relied upon. Mo then drew up his plans of campaign with the utmost secrecy. 11c obtained tho fullest information on tho disinels in which brigandage chiefly nourished, and despatched columns of Iroops led by reliable and experienced guides. Thu result soon Rurnasocd all expectations. Most of tho robber chiefs wore arrested, and their gangs dispersed. With a view to restoring" confidence among tho people, Mgr, Pcccd had the dreaded chiefs loaded with chains, and marched through the streets of tho city. Jle also took care that all sentences passed by tho Courts wore carried out to tho letter. And brigandage died out for want of brigands/’ ELECTION AS POPE. When thirty-three years of ago, Monaignor Pecci was preco nised titular Archbishop of Dnniictta. and sent as nuncio to Brussels, presenting his credentials to Leopold I. in February, 1813. In that city the newly consecrated prelate became acquainted for tbe first time with dip loniatic'usaecs. 111-healtli was the chief cause of 'Nuncio Poem's retirement from Brussels, tbo winters being too severe, and curly in 18-tG ho took possession of the see of Perugia to wbicli lie bad been nominated, in response to the petition of the people, who gratefully remembered his rule ns civil governor. In ISlill Pins IX. created the popular archbishop a cardinal. In July, 1877, Cardinal Pecci

In Noveirtwwr, 1824, ho entered, the schools of the Collegia Xtomauo, then. restored to the Jesuits. Here he remained seven years, studying literature, science, philo„ oophy and theology with an unflagging ardour to which his masters and fellowstudents boro witness- As one of his friends remarked of him in the "Civit(a Catholica," "during, his studies in Romo he had neither society nor amusement. His desk was his world, scientific investigation fiia paradise." In 1821 ho received the first prize for orations and Latin verses, and in 1823 he got the first premium in physio-chomistry, and th© first acoessit in mathematics. While studying philosophy ho was entrusted, despite big youth, to giro repetitions in philosophy to the pupils of th© German College. In his third year of philosophy, ho sustained a public disputation, and obtained the first premium. This was in 1830. When the students of the Roman College sent a deputation to Leo XII. on the occasion of th© Jubilee granted by that Pope to tho Catholic •world, Joachim Pocci was chosen to head it, and it fell to him accordingly to address the Sovereign Pontiif in tho Inn, gunge of Cicero. His speech, it is related, delighted the venerable Pop©, and would certainly have had some influence on Joachim's future had Leo XIX. lived long enough to give practical effect to tho special favour with which ho had honoured tho young orator. A YOUTHFUL SPORTSMAN. In these days, whenever he went for his annual holiday, Joachim made a reputation for himself ns ti sportsman. Not many years ago, an old inhabitant of Carpineto, Salvagni by name, was induced to tell something of these sporting exploits of 4 half a century before. "We were up with the dawn, and clambered up to beat all the Forest a, Casino and Casettone coverts. SerNino (as the Pope is called in hia native town) would even venture on tho Alpine slopes of Melaina and Fageta, not to mention Semprevisa ana Capreo. How many times have we not seen the last rays of the sun gild our footsteps on these heights, whilst the village beneath gradually faded awny in the blue smoke from the couage chimncvs and the advancing shadows of the surrounding mountains." Salvagni complained sadly that the Pope was no longer tho "jovial sportsman" of yore. The sporting gun used by Joachim Pecci on these excursions is still seen, preserved in a glass case, at the homo of his family in Carpineto. lIIS ORDINATION In 1832, when he had been for two years an assistant-master at the Germanic College for philosophy students, and President of the Theological Academy of the Roman College, he received tho diploma entitling him to ioin the celebrated College of the Nobility. Hero his distinguished career continued. He took lessor orders in 1831, and in 1837—tho year after his father's death—was appointed one of the prelates of the Pope, and later in the same your a sub-deacon. Seven days after he had attained the rank of sub-deacon he was raised to the diacoimtc, and on the Slst December, 1837, Monsignor Pecci was ordained priest, and celebrated his first Mass in tho chapel of St. Stanislas

was appointed Cardinal Camerlingo to Pius IX., an office which gave him chief charge of the temporalities of the Holy See and the Presidency of the Apostolic Chamber. On the death of Pius IX, on 7th February. 1878, Cardinal Pecci was elected Pope ou 20th February. The coronation took place in tho Sistine Chapel on Sunday, 3rd March. 1878. In his distinguished office as Pope, Leo XIII. mad© himself famous by his wise and beneficent rule. His statesmanship commanded the admiration of tho world, and in his celebrated, encyclicals his treatment of the relations between capital and labour .and kindred subjects bearing upon the social and political life of mankind have been of immense imr portanco in tho settlement of these questions. THE POPE AND THE CIVIL POWERS. One of tho most striking characteristics of the policy of Leo XIII. was the skilful diplomacy shown by him in dealing with the nations of the earth. In his encyclicals to the church in France, ho set out_ in very clear terms the duty of Catholics # to tho civil power. Leo XIII. was guided by the same lofty and conciliatory motives in his relations with all foreign Governments.. Many intcrestmg anecdotes are connected with his dealings with Germany, which ended in the abrogation of the Kulturkampf. Bismarck appealed to the Pope as arbitrator ui the dispute with Spain concerning the Caroli-ne Islands, ‘and although the award was in favour of Spain, very cordial relations followed between Rome and Berlin. Th© reign of Leo XIII. also witnessed the official re-establish in ent of relations between tho Holy See and Russia. Th© doctrinal, political and social encyclicals of the Pop© were both numerous and of , vast importance. Amongst them may be mentioned those dealing with the origin of civil power (June 29th, 1881), tho religious question in France (February Bth 1884), secret societies (20th April, 1884). the Christian constitution of States (November Ist, 1835), his letters to the Catholic prelates in Ireland in regard to the political condition of that country, and his letters on the American movement. The social question attracted quite as much of his attention a?, tho political outlook. His masterly "Borum Noyarnm" encyclical, in which is clearly laid # down tho reciprocal obligations of employers and employed, earned him tho title of the "Workmen's Pope/' In Leo XIII. the philosopher was quite as prominent as tho politician, the theologian, or the sociologist. His encyclical on Christian philosophy (August 4th, 1870), his letter on tho subject of Christian marriage (February 10th, 1880), and hig encyclicals on th© mysteries of religion, arc not onljr remarkable for their clear enunciation of doctrine, but, like all his written works, are distinguished for their faultless style. A recent writer has said:. “His compositions have the conciseness of Tacitus, the richness and elegance of Cicero, and tho grace of Sallust—the three classical prose authors whom ’the Pope prizes above all others.*’ HIS ASTONISHING VITALITY. The Pope was mam both

imy.Mcnlly and mentally. After he had pn.:-; : -;cd ins nhnHuib vcut. ho wont severe o,.oration for the 10 jrjvai of a tumour, and afterwards sus. tallied t)i o courage r-f his favourite physician, who al-o hud to face the -lirgoon'.T knim. "0«m forgets all wear:ness/’ said the surgeon in an intorvP'.v reported j tt t “LamaA.” “in lh c preaonco ol tho Don! lucal Arstor. You cannot believe hew he «upi)ort<j, tho burden of his yoairt. 1 m-wm havrj an audlemie of Jiiiu without reluming refreshed and reinvigoratod. Nothing (weapon him; he Takes stock' of avervihnig. forms his own immediate. uupre-sions, roads the journals bv hnnsoif. so that there is hardly a question of the day which docs not interns! him or which finds idm unprepared/’ Leo XTTL had a marvellous eyesight and an equally marvellous memory, lie, never used fringes of any Innd. and not only read tho large miaV. of refigous books, but ah-o the tiadiv printed I'alift.u nowspa.poi •?, which require tho best of eyes. .Many tales arc* void of his niomorv. ’ For instance, not Jong * since ho received a foreign cardinal who had conm for his visit ad limina. and who ou leaving asked the papal benediction for his servant John. also. “Wlmf;!" t 1 ’-- claimed Loo XTIL. “have you chan-ofi? T thought his name was Louis/’ “So it is, your Holines'?/’ was the reply; “hut he is ill and I‘have brought another with me.” Once, when a colonial bishop visited Lome, as every bishop is required to do ones in ‘.seven years, the first question put to him whan lie was given audience by the Pope was to his health. .(fU Holiness, with singular! v-relent ivo memory, recollected that on tho last occasion on which his visitor had c.inift to coo him, f!m bi-liou had si-lTeml from a. cold. Thus, after the lapse nf seven years. Pope Leo was, though fie had seen thousands nf in tho interval, able to pick out this I’Ulc fact ns if ho had heard il: onlv on the previous day. THE POPE AND HIS DOCTOR.

The following anecdote of tho Tope ami his doctor Riven one of tbo dcliirhlfiiilv human touches uf nature that makes the whole world kin:—When tbo Fopo was sufferin'; from hoarseness tbo doctor advised bis patient to curtail a discourse be was to deliver during fpo day, and nave him a iinwdrr to ‘ lake. Leo kill, pocketed the powder and thou Blit no more about it. As to the di-course, the Holy Father did not emit one word of it. In vain did the doctor, who was present, repeatedly clem- his throat with imicii emphasis a_■ a, reminder to Hie Pope to economise his sireiifftb. IPs Holiness kept on and even purposely raised his voice. After finishing Ins address he seitt for Dr Lapponi, handed him the powder, and said, laiitrliincly; "Hero, my dear doctor, take yom- powder. You evidently need it more than I.’’

Cnps3 was tlie favourite pastime of the Pope, and his mastery of this complex ’ science was said to lie great. \ Roman priest, Father- Grain,' had the honour of being his usual follow-player, and fulfilled this function for over four-and-tlrirty years. A PAPAIi JUBILEE. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Coronation of Leo XIII. wag celebrated rn March last with all the grandeur and impressiveness associated' with Idol, ceremonies of _ tbo Roman Catholic Church, and amid snch a display of enthusiasm ami emotion mi the port of dm vast assemblage gathered within the walls of St. Peter’s as vied with the greatest of previous demonstrations of reverenco and affection for the aged Pontiff. At mglit snored edifices in Rome, churches, monasteries, convents seminaries., and also private Ironses were illuminated in commemoration of the event. and the general effect wa - heightened by tho burning of Beimal fires throughout the city. The scene ”o" tho Plaza at St. Peter’s in tho morni-m waa_ magnificent. There wore many Italian soldiers in modern uniforms making a striking contrast to (lip mediaeval costumes of tho Swiss Papal Guards on duty ni the doors of the cathedral. Thorn was n dreadful struggle for places when the doors were opened The majestic procession of great digni' tanas of the Church, was late in n pZ peanng,. but was gorgeous and imposin'*. As tho bells of five hundred cluircnes clanged a warning, the Pope appeared on Ms way to th e Basilica. Ho was earned on the Sedi a Gestatoria by twelve men in red brocade, the Sistin> Choir sang "Tuns Petrus,” and thousands of voices 'shouted "Long Live the Pope!” It -was calculated that 75,000 persons were present. THE POPE’S LAST PRATER. His Holiness the Pope celebrated his ninety-third birthday and tho twentyfifth anniversary of his election by 'n poem, written in Latin, which ho called * Leo s last prayer.” This is a metrical translation of the poem: Leo now sets thy sun; pale as its dying ray; Black night succeeds the day. Black night for theo; wasted thy framelife’s flood sustains ’ No more thy shrunken, veins. Death casts his fatal dart; robed for tho grave thy bones Lie under the cold stones. But my freed soul escapes her chains and longs in flight ’ To reach tho realms of light. That is the goal she seeks; thither her journey fares; Grant, Lord, my anxious prayers— That, with the citizens of heaven, God’s raco aurl li"ht May ever thrill my sight; That 1 may see Thy face. Heaven’s Queen, whose Mother love Has brought mo homo above. To Thee, saved through the tangles of a perilous way, I lift my grateful lay.