Pope Plus X.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 24 August 1914, Page 6

Pope Plus X.

' FROM PAR ISi I (PRIEST TO POPE. GREAT PROGRAMME OF REFORM. ttuissepe Sarto, a simple Italian oriest, was. to the surprise of moat nun. and of himself most of all, raised to the unique rank of Pope in August, 1!X)3. It was stated at the time that, he owed his unexpeeted election to the determination of Austria to prevent the leading political candidate, Cardinal Rompolla, from ; beiii£ elected. With this object the Emperor of Austria made successful Use of his disputed right of veto as a j representative of tlie Holy Roman EmI pire. Kampolla, lvlio was the most favored 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 were eliminated, and the choice of the cardinals quickly fell on the astonished Patriarch of Venice, a man comparatively unknown. Tn his first public speech after liij election, he declared that 'his great aim would be "Kenevare Omnia in Christo"—to renew all things 111 , Christ. And when he was asked on one , occasion what his politics might be, ' he is said to have snapped his fingers, and, pointing to the crucifix, replied: "That is my polities." The motto and the incident show the man. Yet, when matters arose which lie considered as involving questions of ■principle, the Pope was invariably inflexible. Though he did nul, go out of his way to press tlie old temporal claims of the Papacy, he upheld them firmly whenever they were in question, quite regardless what the, political consequence*; might bo. A man of very simple tastes and absolutely unaffected character, the late Pope soon dispensed with the pomp and ceremony which had characterised the Vatican under some of his predecessors. Jlc made many administrative reforms, devoting an attention to details of administration which had not been usual with previous Popes. lie \Vas in a very special legrec that which liis titlo indi<yites—the "Papa - ' or father, o-f his pcopte. Sprung from the common folk, he never for' got his origin, or lost his warm affection to tlie class to which he had once 'He mnde himself familiar to the people of Rome, and those who kenw him best revered him most, tor himself, as well as -his exalted office. EARLY LI I'lC. SOCIAL WORKER AXD PIIILAXTROI'lllST. The late Pope Pins X. was born of humble origin, at Ric.se, in the diocese of • il'eviso, near Venice, on June '2. IS.'l.j. lfe wa.- educated in ihe diocesan seini'iaries of Trcviso and Padua," and ordained in ISSB. For .seventeen years he acted as parish priest in various Venetian dioceses, alter which lie was appointeii in turn, episcopal chancellor of the diocese ol Trcviso, spiritual director and examiner of the seminary, and vicar of the Chapter of Proviso" Cathedral. In LS-f he was appointed Bishop of .Manna. under somewhat itrying circumstances. The 'Mantuans had not been consulted ill the choice ctheir bislioo. They felt distinctly aggrieved at this ignoring of their riglHs. and when the new ISisliop appeared among them it seemed prouaoie that he would *not receive a very hearty The Mantuans 1 have, indeed, a certain reputation - for turbulence. JSut tlie winning manlier and perfect tact of (iuiseppo Sarto quickly made them his linn friends, as his other qualities made Mantua a j model bishopric. At the end of nine years Sarto was called to Rome and honored with a 'Cardinal-ship. Only three days later, to tin; great regret, oi' the people of '.Mantua, he was appointed Patriarch of Venice.

Here new diliiculties beset the path or ' the kindly and tactful ecclesiastic. Vcn- I ice was going through a phase of anticlericalism. But tin- new patriarch was -soon so sei-ure in tile affections of the masses, that he could afford to disregard the hostility which at tirst was shown him by the ollicial classes. !Improved himself possessed of a more genuine and earnest democratic spirit than many of the Liberal leaders themselves. He took an enthusiast;- interest in social questions, devoting himself heart mid soul lo any projee; tor improving the condition of the poor. He lent his aid to the institution of rural banks, cooperative soi-ieties. benevolent aims, to any such schemc-s in fact for the -amelioration of the lot of the working classes. He did not even fear to come forward himself in person in disputes between capital and labor, and it was thank.s to his good otlijes that a sci'io is strike of cigar-makers in Venice was hi ought to a salisla: tory conclusion At the same time he so won the conliden.;c of the oliicial world that no v.ord was ever said against the inlluen.-e which he exercised upon tile people 'it large. The object which he declared he had most at Ileart, was to make Venice a religious cit;.. and at least he had all the semblance oi siuvcsi. Tlis relations with the Government authorities were always excellent, t'pon one occasion lie went to pay his respects to the King of Italy when the latter was visiting \ i: I ice. The J<iwished to receive Jiim with special deferen r, hut Sarto | t.liat In* niioht take his turn of atidiciio* I with others who v,waiting f, )r tJi<* .same ■ purpose. Uiti same i inn* h \ in M. even then, uncompromising opinions in support of tl:e tt".)i])oial of the Papaey. !U)\V iMI'S X. WAS KLECTKI). AX I'.WVLMJXt; <'ANI)II>ATK. It was this <m'wi workt-r .liltie known outside his own province, and s.arceiy at all 'beyond the iu)i';l, rs of Italy, win; wjm destined to i»econ:e the spirit.ii.il ruler of the Uomnn Latholi:.- woild. He iiad no expectation of au ho;K>: - and rehpoiwibility. When he left Venice to attend the Con-lave in Koine f.,r l lie election of a si;' C!>sor to Pope Leo, he was aceonh'd a -purtaneous demonstration mi the pin oi : the Vcntilian people, who h;»u a?■ Nlbletl to wisli hint Coil-spe'.'d. It was loin: before the I'at-jiiir'-!i couhi be made to understand tin*, this ermvd was iin-re do him honor. "Wni, why." he a■•ked. >{ l urn eoniin;; 1 hack in. 1 have taken a return ticket" When the ballot. bejLjin to turn in hifavor after the wLo of Hamnolla and elimination oi nolili<al candidates. So was. iillcd with Pennine <'onstc.rnat.ion. Afti r the second lo last ballot he hn>V> down altogether, and implored the cardimils io lind some other candidal \ lu* neitlKr could nor wonld :u-eepi (h----tiara. It required the most nvL-enl, nsistaih'e l>efore he could be indm-eil to sa»* that, he would not renounce i'.i'• honor. Even then, it was stated at the time, ''he seemed a l)roken man until the moment before he went out to ,bI liver liis public benediction." He received con-)ider;;bly more than the twothirds majority necessary to make him Pope.

Amongst tin- r.rst f'.s of the pontificaet, Pius X iamie-l an order to the Italian Catholics stain as formerly from any inter' V.. a> e in politics. This showed his %<i»<T C ;r<- to the views of his two prcdcees.-ur ■; as to the deprivation of tile UinL> ..f italy of the Pope's temporal potter, lie was soon to show his attitude c ;•.,>« this matter in a manner which (.I i,! much more attention and ho--'Hit;-. In the spring of ]!N;t3 ii'rcside'it Li.of France, visited King K.mnuui'i i m Rome. The visit was'a return n-i..-, Mil, the King of Itilv was regarded a- i,\i enemy of the Vatican by ivase... »; ;.h appropriation of its'temporal - He been therefore, exvonrinirii: a!. ->3. and Roman Catholic Sovereigns w.-rc forbidden bv t.lic Popes to visit him in his capital. President Loubct intimated to the Pope that lie intended visiting Victor Emmanuel, and stated thai while in Rome he would also call on ('' X. Despite the pro- | testations of roine French Catholics, and the President's representations that a refusal 'by tin- Pope to receive Lim would incite the anti-Catholic section in France, the i'ope denounced the visit and declined io meet the head of the Republic.