Pope Leo XIII

POPE LEO XIII. BY THE RT. REV. LAWRENCE SCANLAN, D.D., BISHOP OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF UTAH, SALT LAKE CITY.

Leo XIII, after occupying the chair of Peter for twenty-five years, has passed for his reward. As head of the greatest relig- ious organization on earth, he has stood before the world as a man of rare gifts and acquirements. He has enjoyed the per- sonal esteem of all whom he met, and exerted a personal influence on society, which show him to be one of the master minds of the age. After the death of Pius IX, Cardinal Pecci, who had dis- played such exceptional qualities of prudence and wisdom in the delicate and important offices assigned to him by his two prede- cessors, seemed to be designated by Providence to rule the church of God. Hence his venerable colleagues, sitting in conclave, after thirty-six hours, elected Cardinal Pecci Pope, on February 20, 1878. After his election, he took the name of Leo XIII, and has since been saluted as Lumen in Codo. As a scholar, churchman, diplomat and statesman, the char- acter of Leo XIII is portrayed in his numerous encyclical letters.

Soon after his elevation to the papal throne, December 28, 1878, he wrote his famous encyclical on SociaUsm which he regarded as the enemy of human governments, as well as of the church of God. He showed clearly that Catholic doctrine was the most efficacious remedy to subvert the false theories of Nihilism, Socialism and Anarchism. In the false philosophical teaching of the age, he detected a menace to religion and society, and solicitous for the welfare of both, he wrote his encyclical Eterni Patris, August 4, 1879. In this he made a strong appeal for the restoration of the philosophy of St. Thomas.

POPE LEO XIII. Til

Seeing the perils arising from divorce, and as wedlock formed the basis of Christian society, he wrote on Christian marriage an encyclical entitledArcanum, February 10, 1880. It showed the origin of power and authority. Hostility to this power, as emanating from secret and oath-bound societies, received careful attention. In his encyclical Immortali Dei, issued November 1, 1885, he showed the advantages and necessity of a Christian constitution for gov- ernment. Other letters of great importance, showing rare ability and a broad and comprehensive mind, were written by his Holiness during his pontificate. His poetry, which has been translated into many languages, has been wide-spread, and has added some beautiful gems of thought to the current literature of the day. With a vigilant eye, he watched every movement that affected the church throughout the entire world. Religious quarrels he neither sought nor courted. Hence his great success in effecting reconciliation and restoring peace to the church in European countries that were hostile to the Catholic religion when he ascended the chair of Peter. His encyclical against Socialism affected the Czar of Russia, whose life was daily threatened by the Nihilists. He simply asked for Catholics the practical en- joyment of their equal rights and freedom of conscience, which the Russian government denied them. Some concessions regard- ing the exercise of religious worship were granted, in 1883. His successful efforts in the Congress of Berlin, in obtaining liberty for the Catholic church in the East, encouraged Leo XIII to make overtures to Bismarck for the religious pacification of Germany. Bismarck, embittered by religious hatred, considered it a part of his mission to oppress and enslave the church. Finally, after many years' struggle and difficult negotiations, the German chan- cellor yielded to Leo's benign influence, in 1887. His diplomacy* crowned with success, led to the amicable meeting between his Holiness and the new Emperor William, in the Vatican. Afterwards, when chosen as umpire between Germany and Spain, in their controversy over the Carolines, his decision gave mutual satisfaction. England, ever slow to yield to Catholic rights, was partial to Leo's policy. She admired his statesman-

ship, and had, at one time, entered into semi-official negotiations with a view of establishing diplomatic relations between the Vati-

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can and St. James. The anti-Catholic spirit displayed in France

and Belgium would, at other times, cause a rupture; but Leo's pa- tience, tenderness, and good will, placated the enemy. In all 'his relations with governments, he has been pre-emi- nently successful. This was made manifest when he celebrated his sacerdotal jubilee in 1888. All nations paid their tribute of respect and love. Magnificent gifts, works of art, pontifical orna- ments, and richly-jeweled sacred vessels, were laid at his feet by princes, kings, and emperors. No" Pope, since the Reformation, has wielded such extraordinary influence, even over non-Cath- olics, as Leo XIII did.For more than a quarter of a century he has filled public mind, and he secured a large space in the for the church peace and public recognition, even in non-Cath- olic countries, which she had not enjoyed for three hundred and

fifty years before. In his encyclicals, he has bequeathed to the world valuable documents, which testify to his varied and extensive erudition. His presentation of Catholic truths, though old, is in a style of fresh- ness and beauty, which makes them interesting. They will always be read with interest, because they are adapted to all times and circumstances. In his private life, he was a man of noble sen- timents, rare purity of heart, whose sole ambition was the up- lifting of humanity, and the uniting of all by the golden chain of charity. The world is better for his having lived, written, and ruled the church of God, and his name will live forever in the grateful remembrance not only of Catholics, but of all who re- gard the welfare of mankind in this world and the next.

[Editor's Note. — Joachim Vincent Raphael Lodovico Pecci, after- ward Pope Leo XIII, Was born March 2, 1810, at Carpineto. He was educated at the Jesuit college at Viterbo, in 1818-25, and in the latter year entered the Colegio Romana, and two years thereafter the Gregor- ian University. In 1832, he entered the College of Noble Ecclesiastics, and rose from one office to another till, in 1854, he was made a Cardi- nal. He died in Rome, July 20, 1903, at 4:04 p. m.]