POPE PIUS DEAD

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2234, 21 August 1914, Page 7

POPE PIUS DEAD

A SUDDEN EM EXHORTATION TO THE WORLD AN APPEAL FOR PEACE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August 20, B'4o p.m.) Rome, August 20, morning The Pope is sinking. Ho has been unconscious since noon, and <loctors #re now administering oxygen. . ■ ■. 'Later.; '-■' His Holinese the Popei is.dead. AN: EXHORTATION TO THE : ■ WORLD, v ';;■. ; , Rome, August 19; ,;'• Tho Pope has Issued an exhortation to the world. His 'Holiness charges Catholics to approach the Throne of Grace and pray God speedily to remove tho evil causes of war, and give those who rule thoughts of peace and not of affliction. The Vatican organ states ,that'the Pope's illness is merely a slight bronchial catarrh. ■ , Later. The Pope is in bed. His condition Iβ unchanged. ■'■•'"

FROM PARISH PRIEST TO ■• ' ■>'■ POPE. ■■■■•■0 ■..:•■>•

CAREER OF PIUS X. GREAT PEOGKAJIME OF REFORM. Guiseppi Sarto,. a ' simple' Italian priest, was,to the,surprise of-most men, and of himself most of all, raised to the unique rank of Pope in August, 1903, It was stated at the time that he owed his unexpectwLelection to the determination of' Austria'to prevent the leading political; candidate, Cardinal Rampolla,, from being elected. With this object the Emperor of Austria made successful' use of big disputed right of veto as a representative of the Holy Roman Empire. Ranipolla, who was the most, favoured candidate in the early ballots of the Conclave, having been removed from the running, all the other, men whose names had been before the' world .wore eliminated, . and the choice of the Cardinals quickly fell on the astonished Patriarch of Venice,',* man comparatively unknown. In his firk public speech after his election,he declared .that his great aim would be 'TJetit-.' vare Omnia in'■; Ohristo"—to.: renew: ..all tilings in; Christ. And when he'-'was asked on one occasion what his politicsmight be, he is said.to have snapped , hie fingers, and, pointing to the cruoifix, replied: "That'is my politics." ■>. . „ The motto and the incident show the man. : Yet, when matters arose which' he considered as, involving questions of. principle, -tho late Pope was' invariably inflexible. '. Though ho did not go routof his way to press the old temporal, olaims; of, the Papacy,-he' upheld ■ them firmly whenever they, were called in question, quite what tho political cohsequences mtgiit be. A:man of very simple tastes and absolutely unaffected character, the late Pope eoom die; pensed with raqst of the pomp and money which had characterised the Vatican under some of his predecessors. He made many administrative reforms, devoting an attention ■'to details of administra-' tion which had not been usual with previous Popes. Hβ was in a'very special degree that which his'title indicates—the "Papa," or father of his people. Sprung from the common, folk, he.never forgot his origin, or lost his warm "affection for the class to which "he , had belonged. 'He made himself familiar'to' the .-people of Home, and those who knew him best revered him most, for himself, as well ae his exalted office; '' v: '"•;■"■■' •.'"'•:. ""*•'-'■ EARLY LIFE. 'SOCIAL WOEKBR AND PHILANi, •; ■. ■ TEOPHIST. ■■•■■,■-'.■■ i The late Pope Pius X. was born of Humble origin, at Eiese, in the dioceee of Treviso, near Venice; on June 2, 1835. He was eduoated in the diocesan' seminaries \ of Treviso and Padua, and ordained in 1858. For seventeen years acted as parish priest in various Venetian 1 dioceses, after which,he was appointed, in turn, episcopal chancellor of the diocese of Treviso, spiritual director and examiner of the.'seminary, and vicar of the Chapter or Treviso Cathedral. .In 1881 he was appointed Bishop of Mantau, under somewhat trying circumstances. The Mantuans had not been- consulted in the choice of their spiritual overseer. They felt aggrieved at this ignoring of their rights, and when the new Bishop appeared amongst thorn it-seemed' probable that he would ■ not receive !a very kindly welcome. The • Mamtuans „ have, indeed, a certain reputation for 'turbulence. But tho winning manner and perfect tact of Guiseppo Sarto quickly made them his firm friends, as his other qualities raado' Mantua a model bishopric. Af the end of nine years Sartb was called to Rome and honoured with a CardinalBhip. Only three days later, to the great regret'of tho people of Mantua,'he was appointed Patriarch of Venice. '-.. ' Here new difficulties beset the path of the kindly and tactful ecclesiastic. Venice was going through jo; phase of anti-clerical-ism. But the new. Patriarch was soon so secure in, the affections of the masses that he could afford to disregard the hostility, which was at first shown him by the official classes. He proved himself possessed of'a more genuine and earnest democratic'spirit than many of the-Lib-eral leaders themselves. He'took an enthusiastic interest in social questions, devoting himself heart and soul to any projeot for improving the condition of the poor. He lent his aid to the institution of rural banks, cu-opcrativo societies, ■ benevolent airaa, to any schemes in fact for the amelioration of tho lot of the workin» classes. Ho did jiot even fear to come forward himself in person in -disputes between capital and labour, and it was thanks to •his good offices that a serious etrike of cigar.-rnakers in Venice was brought to a. satisfactory conclusion. At tho same time ho so won the confidenca of tho official world that no word was ever said against the influence which he exercised upon tho people at large. The object which'he declared he had most at heart was to make Venice a religious city, and at least he had all the semblance of success. His' relations with the Government authorities wero always excellent. Upon one occasion he went to pay his respects to the King of Italy' when the latter was visiting. Venice. Tho. King wished to receive him with special deferonce, but Sarto begged that ho might take his turn of audience with others who wore waiting for the same purpose. At the same time he held, even then, uncompromising opinions in support of the temporal claims of the Papacy. HOW PIUS X. WAS ELECTED. ' AN UNWILLING CANDIDATE. It was this quiet workor, little known outsido his own province, and scarcoly at all beyond the borders of Italy, who was destined to become tho spiritual 'ruler of the Roman Catholic world. He had no expectation of, such an honour and •responsibility. . When ho left Venice to attend the Conclave in Rome for the election of a successor to Pope Leo, he , was accorded a spontaneous demonstration on tho part of the Venetian people, who had assembled.to wish him God-speed. It was long before the Patriarch could be. made to understand' that this crowd was there to do him honour. "But why "ho asked. "I am coming back again. I have taken a return ticket.'.' When the ballot to turn in his favour after the veto of Eampolla end elimination of political candidates, he was filled with genuine consternation. After the second to last ballot he broke down altogether, and implored tho Cardinals to find some other candidate, ae ho noither could nor would accept the tiara. It required the most urgent ineistence before he could'bo induced to eay that he would not renounce the honour. Even then, it was stated at the. time, "he Boeined a, brokon man until the moment

Among tho first acts of tho pontificate, Pius X. issued, an ordor to the Italian Catholics to abstain as formerly from any interference in politics. This showed his adhorenco to . the views of his two predecessors aa'to tho deprivation by the King of Italy of the Pope s temporal power. Ho was soon to show his attitude upon this question in a manner which provoked much more attention and hostility. In the spring of 1!)OG President Loubet, of Prance, visited King Einanuel in Rome. The visit was a retnrn one, but the King o! Italy was regarded aa an enemy of the Vatican by reason of his appropriation of its temporal powers. He had been therefore excommunicated, and Kornan Catholio Sovereigns wore forbiddon by tho Popes to visit.him in his capital. President Louhet intimated to the Pope that he intended visiting Victor Emanuol. and stated that while in. Rome he would also call on Pius X. Despite the protestations of some French Catholics, and the President's representations thata rer ,fußal by the Pope - to receive him would incite the anti-Catholic section in Prance, the Pope denounced the visit and declined to ni«et the headoftho Ro'publio. TROUBLE IN FRANCE. . THE SEPARATION LAW. : The late Pope frequently admitted that the conflict between Church and State in France was'a great causo of anxiety and grief to him. Tho year 1905 saw the passage through its various stagee of M. Briand'sftfamous measure for the separatiou'of State and Church. In the spring of 1906-there began in Paris and some other districts of France an organised and often violent agitation against the taking of the Church inventories, which was suspected to be : the first step towards spoliation. The crisis, of the quarrel was reached .on December 11. the last day on which the Church authorities could put thomselv«3 right with the law by giving'notice under the Public Meetings Act of 1881 that meetings were to be held in their churches. On Diacembarll the police of Paris expelled Mgr. Montagrilni, auditor to the Papal, Nunciature, on the charg« of "having remained in regular commu-. nication with the French episoopate, and with having transmitted to them the instructions of the'. Vatican, notwithstanding the cessation of all relations between the French; Government and . the Holy See." On December 15 31. Briand introduced a Bill into the French Chamber

abolishing the privilege by which Catholics were allowed a full year-in wkioh to , form religious associations, and proclaiming as a consequence the immediate devolution of Church property to the State or local authorities. Another provision of th«? Act deprived the clergy of such pensions and other contingent advantages a 9.were secured, to them under the Separation Law. The French clergy, in fact, wero left without, salaries or pensions. .'..■■■'■' . "■:.■. The Pope's objection to the Separation Law was based on three grounds (1) That he. was not consulted, us ho should have been, as representing one of the two parties to the original "concordat" between the Frenoh Eepublic and the Itomau See; (2) that, the law made no mention of the Catholic Church and of the fights 'of bishop 3 iii its government, merely stating that all associations for public worship must conform to the rules of the cult for which they were' created;. (3) that tho action of the French Government in sequestrating the Church property was confiscation. The Pope is said to have declared ,, . "I am liko the father of a family. I cannot permit outsiders fo enter my house and.regulate the interests of my' ohildren without consulting me."

A GREAT PROGRAMME.

before he wont out to deliver his public benediction." 1 Ho received considerably raoro than the two-thirds majority necessary to make him Pope. ;

THE LATE POPE'S REFORMS. A Rorc»n Catholic writer has stated that the historian of the present Pontificate will certainly dwell with enthusiasm on the following features of the late Pope's great programme—"To restore nil things in Christ," which Pius X gave ps the motto of his reign in the first encyclical ho addressed to the ■ world :— 1. The reformation of sacred music, by , restoring the .Gregorian chant to the purity of its golden age and by banishing theatrical music from the house of God. 2. The apostolic visitation of Rome and all the dioceses of Italy, by which numerous abuses were removed and a new spirit of zeal and fervour infused into both clergy and laity. 3. The reformation of ecclesiastical education—(a) by ordaining that candidates for the priesthood must study theology four years and philosophy for three years, and (b) by abolishing in Italy the small and-anaemic seminaries and gathering tho students into flourishing district seminaries, whore they have the advantage of good professors, and a.re, at tho same time, able to follow the general courses leadiris to the governmental universities. i. The reformation of catechetical instruction in the parishes—a measure very necessary in many countries, and not least of all throughout a large part of Italy. 5. Tho formation of Biblical Commission. G. The, condemnation of the heresy of rapaornisra; and the vigorous means adopted for putting an end to it. 7. The promulgation of a new and universal code of laws, the first attempt ever made to give complete unity in ecclesiastical, legislation. (The first fruit of this codification of the Church's laws was the decree of August 2, 1907, on. espousals arid marriage.) 8. To this, record the "New Zealand Tablet" adds the great 1908 reform of the Vatican Congregations (or Departments through which the business of the Universal Church is conducted). In Juno, 1908, the Pope, by an Apostolic Constitution, decreed the reorganisation of these congregations. Some of thn minor congregations were abolished, and their work divided among the others; other congregations were reorganised; a now congregatioa was established dealing the

disciplinary eide of the sacraments (matrimony in its various aspects included), their dogmatic side remaining as heretofore under the direction of the Holy Office, of which tho Pope will continue to be, ex ofi\cio, the Prelect; and (among other useful-.reforms) a body of experts in canon law wns retained for tho gratuitous service of tho poor. ; THE INTERREGNUM. FUNERAL CEREMONIES DESCRIBED. When a Pope dies the Cardinal Secretary announces the fact to the members of the Diplomatic Corps, and with that his office expires (writes Mr. Douglas Sladon in "Tho Secrets of the Vatican"). His appointment w-as only for the lifetime of' the Pope. The Vicar-General now gives orders, not as Vicar-General of the Pope, VicarGoneral and Judge Ordinary of Rome; and during the interregnum the affairs of tlio diocese are in his 'hands. The Administration ■ for the time being reverts to the- Cardinals, but they ■do as little as possible: it ia not etiquette for fresh business to bo inaugurated during the interregnum. Of course the whole of tho members ol the Sacred College caunqt exercise tlie Papal authority during the interregnum; bo they depute their powers to a committee of four, three or whom are changed every three days. Tho fourth, the Cardinal Oamerlengo, acts with the committee during tho whole time, and retains hisexecutive functions until the electioli of the new Pope. The office was held for a year by Leo XIII, tliea Cardinal IVeci. "It is not hard," writes Mr. Sladen, "for those who liave seen Leo XIII borne on his 'Sedia Gestatoria'. to the Papal Ajtni of St. Peter's on occasions of high pomp to picture the beaptifill dignity with which ho carried out fho time-honoured function of testing tho death of liis predecessor in the Papacy. Lifting tho white veil which covered the face of Pius IX, he addressed him. not by tho name he had bnrne as Pope, but by his own name. 'Giovanni, Giovanni, Giovanni, , called the Camerlengo, each time striking the dead man's fore--head with a little silver hammer. There was no answer. "The Popo is really dead,' he said to his assistants, and the 'de profundis' resounded

through, the chamber. Then the Maestro delta Camera drew tub Fisherman's Ring from the dead pontiff's finger and delivered it to the Cardinal Camerlengo. "From this time forward the Cardinal Camerlengo is escorted by tho Swiss Guard. _ The.'Deans of the. tlireo Orders join him on the committee, and the interregnum government is established. "Nine days is the period fixed for the funeral of a Pope, the daily feature being ;the High Mass in St. Peter's. For six days the celebration is conducted by one Cardinal in tho Chapnl of the Canons: during 'the last three days it is celebrated before a State catafalque erected in tho nav« nt which four cardinals in black copes give absolution. '. ' ' The ceremonies laid down for the actual interment of a Pope provide thru, the body shall be carried from tlu> Chapel of the Holy Sacrament to a sort of catacomb nicho in the pier between the Choir Chapel and the Chapel of the Presentation, m which the body is laid to rest, and whero it has to remain for at least twelve, months aftei death. There three coffins a,ro laid out. Tho first.'is of cypress wood, in which th« chaplains and the noble guards lay iho body, and the Maggiordmo places three purses containing the .medals in gold, silver, and bronze, which havo boon struck annually during the Pope's reign, and hoar his effigy. Then tho oldest Cardinal created by the Pope lavs at his feet a metal cylinder containing a parchment, which gives the history of his Pontificate. After other ceremonifi!) tho other two coffins are called into rf>ciuisition, one being made of lead aivl tho other of oak. Tbo, cyress coffin is placed in the lead coffin, which is in turn screwed.down in the oak coffin, uui the body is then placed in tho niche, whore it remains till the permanent tomb is ready. Tho last ceremony of all ; s when the Segrotario dell" Lette™ T,ati>in pronounces the funeral encomium. ■■