THE NEW POPE.

Kumara Times, Issue 445, 28 February 1878, Page 2

THE NEW POPE.

Joachim Pecci was born on March 2, 1810, at Carpiaeto, ne*r Anagui, of an old patrician family. For some years after his elevation to the Episcopate, which occurred at the earliest convenient age, he acted as prelate and private referendary to Pope Gregory XVI. He was, during this period, employed as Papal delegate at Berievento, Spoleto, and Perugia, where he did good work, putting down the then.prevalent brigandage. Pecci was subsequent!} sent as Nuncio to Brussels and created Archbishop of Perugia, and was one of the hierarchy reserved for the honor of the Cardinalate when Gregory died in 1813. .Seven years, however, elapsed, be.fore Plus IX. bestowed upon him the hat, and the delay was believed to be owing to, the ill-will of Cardinal AntonelH, who dreaded his influence as a man of superior intelii-

gence. lately Minister of Public Instruction, and well known in the literary world, in his recent work upon “ Pins IX, and the future Pope,” describes Cardinal Pecci as “ one of the most elevated minds and even tempers in the whole of the Sacred College.” Upon Dec. 19, 1853, the present Pope received the cardinal’s hat, but for many years afterwards he was left in the quiet retirement of his see at Perugia, the Cardinal Secretary of State not caring to have him too near the Vatican; and, although his appoint-, raent to several offices of state was under consideration at various times, it was not until Antonelli’s death that he obtained any appointment at the Papal Court. He was then and up to his election the Cardinal Gamerlerxgo, and of whose special functions it is, upon the decease of the Pope, to make arrangements for the Conclave and regulate the proceedings; he has also the duty of announcing the selection to the people. The new Pope is represented to be a person thin almost to extenuation, with a cold and rather haughty expression of feature. He is a fluent and deliberate speaker, and can wield the shafts of irony, to perfection when it so pleases him. The Italian papers have always given him credit for being a man well versed in knowledge of the woild, and exceedingly able, in the management of business.