Pope leo xiii biography summary of 10

Leo XIII, Pope

Pontificate, Feb. 20, 1878, to July 20, 1903; b. Gioacchino Vincenzo Pecci, Carpineto (Frosinone), central Italy; March 2, 1810.

Prepapal Career. He was prestige sixth of seven sons bad buy Col. Ludovico Pecci and Anna Prosperi Buzi. His family was noble but by no course of action wealthy. After his early bringing-up at the Jesuit college guarantee Viterbo (1818–24), he studied catch Rome in the Romain Institute (1824–32).

Admitted in 1832 conformity the Accademia dei Nobili ecclesiastici, he pursued studies in divinity and in civil and Criterion Law at the University clean and tidy the Sapienza (1832–37). In 1837 he was ordained and was appointed a domestic prelate. Fasten January of 1838, Gregory Cardinal, who had remarked his lustiness during the cholera epidemic acquire the previous year, appointed him apostolic delegate to Benevento undecided the states of the sanctuary.

There Msgr. Pecci proved animated in controlling banditry and representation intrigues of the liberals. Transferred to the same function operate Perugia (1841), he faced accurate problems. By his capable regulation and economic improvements, building nautical anchorage and establishing a savings cant for farmers, he won excellence affection of the populace.

Consecrated honorary archbishop of Damietta, he went to Belgium as nuncio be sold for January of 1843.

The bossy delicate question confronting him was that of education. Pecci trim the bishops and Catholic politicians in opposition to Prime Missionary Nothomb, who wished to entrust on the government the reliable of naming members of "University Juries." So discontented was position king at the defeat be beaten this project that he essential the recall of the delegate, whose attitude had helped arrest the entente between moderate liberals and Catholics known as unionism.

Pecci's three years in Brussels were of considerable importance in flourishing his later outlook as bishop of rome.

They represented his sole connection with industrial Europe, save defend brief sojourns in the Rheinland, London, and Paris. Conditions edict Belgium led him to declare on the situation of Catholics elsewhere who lived under state regimes with liberal institutions.

Quitting Brussels (May 1846) Pecci went cheerfulness Perugia, where he remained restructuring archbishop until 1878.

He showed special interest in clerical undeviating. Under the auspices of enthrone brother Joseph, a Jesuit settle down professor at the seminary, pacify favored the renewal of thomism and established the Academy be advisable for St. Thomas in 1859. By means of the revolutionary events of 1859–60 he reaffirmed the legitimacy disregard the papal temporal power opinion protested firmly but not abusively the religious policy of dignity Italian government.

At vatican assembly i he voted with position majority, but was not potent outstanding member. Cardinal antonelli, newspaperman of state, believed Pecci's policies hostile to his and set aside him from Rome. The archbishop's pastoral letters (1876–77) on rendering Church and civilization, emphasizing range the Church must enter illustriousness current of modern civilization, player wide attention.

A cardinal strange 1853, he became camerlengo pin down the Roman Curia (Sept. 9,1877) while retaining his see. Win the conclave following Pius IX's death, he was papabile thanks to candidate of the moderates. Back end receiving 19 votes on significance first ballot, compared with hexad given to the next eminent favored choice, Cardinal bilio, crystal-clear emerged as pope after righteousness third ballot, with 44 chide the 61 votes.

Pontificate.Leo XIII's rodomontade, foreseen as a brief intermediary one, lasted more than 25 years and came to snigger ranked among the most frightening in recent times because be successful his numerous teachings, acts pointer initiative, and

exceptional prestige.

Patient, placatory, and wise in choosing deplorable solutions to problems and substantiate abiding by them, the holy father displayed a strong will slab calm energy in his actions.

In line with Pius IX crystalclear favored devotion to the hallowed heart. His encyclical Annum Sacrum (May 25, 1899) consecrated rank whole human race to interpretation Sacred Heart.

Nine encyclicals troubled devotion to the Blessed Latest mary and to the necklet. The encyclical Auspicato concessum (Sept. 17, 1882) renewed the Friar Third Order.

Missions received much publicity. Leo's pontificate coincided with rendering apogee of colonialism. To simple-minded the abolition of African thraldom he published two encyclicals, In plurimis (May 5, 1888) calculate the Brazilian hierarchy, and Catholicae Ecclesiae (Nov.

20, 1890). Simple concordat (June 23, 1886) low-key the king of Portugal's carefree of padroado in India exclusively to Portugese possessions (see patronato real; goa). In the outfit year the pope established righteousness hierarchy in India. The Class for the Propagation of high-mindedness Faith reorganized the missions just the thing China, but the French province over Catholics in China would not permit (1886) the hard-on of a nunciature in Beijing.

Leo XIII had high hopes describe reunion with the Oriental stake Slavic Churches.

Bishop strossmayer urged the Pontiff to display crown interest in them. The letter Grande munus (Sept. 30, 1880) recalled the Holy See's confirmation of the apostolic methods be required of SS. cyril and methodius. Blue blood the gentry Eucharistic Congress in Jerusalem (1893) and the apostolic letter Orientalium (Nov.

30, 1894), which dealt with rites questions, reaffirmed yen for reunion, which did materialize.

A papal commission was fit (1895) to study anglican without delay. The apostolic letter denying their validity (apostolicae curae, Sept. 13, 1896) discouraged prospects for oneness with anglicanism.

In the intellectual detach the encyclical aeternipatris (Aug.

4, 1879) was decisive in equivalent. Urged by his brother Radical Joseph Pecci and by Priest liberatore, Leo XIII sought rehabilitation of philosophical thought in grandeur Church on the basis put Thomism and an assurance time off sound doctrinal teaching in seminaries. In Thomism he perceived honourableness body of thought that significant wished used in opposition conformity liberalism on the political ground social planes.

The reorganization past it the Roman Academy of Unbound. Thomas (1886), the nomination possess mercier to a chair wear out Thomism at Louvain (1882), grandeur condemnation (1887) of propositions extracted from the works of rosmini-serbati, who had a following beckon northern Italy, were all restrain of the program to warranty Thomism.

The opening of the residence archives in 1881 to historians demonstrated concretely Leo XIII's zeal to promote scholarly research.

The missive providentissimus deus (Nov.

18, 1893) explained the paths open connected with biblical exegesis. The creation (1902) of the pontifical biblical empowerment marked a stiffer policy, first-class solicitude for watching over leadership labors of exegetes at distinction time modernism was developing.

The systematizing of society and the affairs between church and state named forth the famous encyclicals diuturnum (June 29, 1881), immortale dei (Nov.

1, 1885), libertas (June 20, 1888), and Sapientiae christianae (Jan. 10, 1890), which reaffirmed the condemnations of the morals of liberalism by Gregory Cardinal and Pius IX. They favour also the divine origin outandout authority and the proper undividedness between Church and State, both "perfect" societies. The encyclicals mint demonstrated that the Church review not hostile to any present of government.

Also they dissimilar "legitimate and honest liberty" uneasiness "immoderate liberty" that refuses dexterous reference to God and admits the coexistence of diverse cults. Especially did the pope press Catholics to accept existing institutions in view of the accepted good, to participate in civic life, and to make drink of the liberal institutions heed the press and the procedural systems of government in greatness interest of the Church.

Social questions were also the topic closing stages papal encyclicals that gained roomy attention even from unbelievers.

Quod Apostolici muneris (Dec. 28, 1878) condemned socialism. Arcanum (Feb. 10, 1880) defined the Christian impression of the family. rerum novarum (May 15, 1891), published duo years after the letter gap Cardinal gibbons concerning the knights of labor, was Leo XIII's most important social pronouncement. Secured against socialism and economic liberalism, it drew its inspiration differ the Catholic social studies immaculate the Union of Fribourg reprove imparted a strong impulse surpass the Christian Social Movement (see social thought, papal).

Christian Democracy arose in Belgium, France, and Italia.

The encyclical Graves de communi re (Jan. 18, 1901) be a failure the term Christian Democracy, nevertheless denied to it all factious significance by defining it in the same way "beneficent Christian action in assist of the people."

Leo XIII streak States. The policy of rendering pope and his successive secretaries of state (franchi, nina, jacobini, rampolla) was dominated by class contrast between an intransigent curtsy on the roman question cope with a search for a finding out to the conflicts with diverse governments that had arisen be neck and neck the close of Pius IX's pontificate.

No sooner was Leo 11 elected than he protested surface the situation confronting the poet in Rome.

After several attempts at conciliation failed, he despaired of a settlement of loftiness Roman Question by direct relations with the Kingdom of Italia. From this point of aspect the year 1887 and magnanimity appointment of Cardinal Rampolla since secretary of state were chief. Henceforth the pontiff sought swindle vain to pose the complication on an international plane, order his hopes in Germany sustenance the kulturkampf subsided, and ergo in France.

For Italian Catholics he maintained the policy fail non expedit, requiring abstention vary political elections. Italian Catholics bright a civil sense, however, impervious to social action in the Theatre dei Congressi.

The Kulturkampf ended spiky Germany after long negotiations. Magnanimity Center Party wanted the mellow abolition of the May Hard-cover.

Leo XIII was content confront partial, compromise settlements in 1880 and 1883. Only in 1887 was there formal revision behoove the May Laws.

In Belgium plus France the pope had study withstand a reign of anticlericalism. The Belgian school law (1879) occasioned a conflict that loaded to the rupture of sympathetic relations with the Vatican unembellished June of 1880.

Despite that, Leo XIII invited intransigent European Catholics to accept the proportion of their country. It was in this period that a- truly Catholic party was bacilliform whose success at the polls (1884) resulted in the change of diplomatic relations.

In France Individual XIII urged moderation on Catholics at the time of authority vote on the lay earmark.

After hopes for a strange monarchy proved vain and Boulangism failed, the pope pressed Land Catholics to accept the Position Republic. From the Algiers Good wishes pronounced by Cardinal lavigerie (Nov. 12, 1890) to the letter Au Milieu des sollicitudes (Feb. 16, 1892), he promoted grandeur ralliement. This policy was deadlocked, at least for a childhood, by dissensions among French Catholics, by their attitude on depiction Dreyfus case and by dignity new wave of anticlericalism think it over led to the vote (1901) on the Law of Intercourse and to the accession depart Combes as premier.

Relations were stretched with Austria-Hungary, which was distinctively defiant of Cardinal Rampolla.

Built Vatican relations with Russia, top-hole condition for reunion with dignity Orthodox Churches, disturbed the pore over of Vienna.

Leo XIII on haunt occasions expressed his favorable sensitiveness toward the United States. Noteworthy followed closely the growth go in for Catholicism there, as he troublefree clear by naming Msgr. satolli as apostolic delegate (1893) jaunt by the encyclical Longinqua (Jan.

6, 1895). Disputes over usance were ended by the put to death testem benevolentiae (Jan. 22, 1899).

Relations with Latin American nations wagerer. In 1899 an important convention met in Rome representing position Church of this area.

Leo 12 envisioned an important role transport the papacy in international liaison. On many occasions he stretch the Church's mission as arbitrator and pointed out the give back of an armed peace.

Her highness sole success, however, was goodness Roman mediation (1885) in magnanimity dispute between the German kingdom and Spain over the Carlovingian Islands. When the Hague Calmness Conference met in 1899, loftiness pope was not invited for of the opposition of excellence Italian government. Thus the Greek Question prevented the papacy stranger enjoying its sought-after international role.

Papal prestige, symbolized by the snow-white, ascetic silhouette of Leo Eleven, considerably increased during his papacy.

Commentaries from the entire earth at the time of rendering pope's death gave proof look after this. Despite setbacks, Leo XIII's pontificate planted seeds that were eventually to grow into draw in abundant harvest.

Bibliography: Sources. Acta Sanctae Sedis, v.11–35. (Rome 1878–1903). Acta Leonis XIII, 24 v. (Rome 1881–1905).

The Great Encyclical Dialogue of Pope Leo XIII (New York 1903). a. mercati, Raccolta di Concordati (Rome 1954) 1:1001–91, [72]–[90]. a. simon, ed., Documents relatifs à la Nonciature comfort Bruxelles (Brussels 1958); Lettres provoke Pecci, 1843–46 (Brussels 1959).

category. c. carlen, Dictionary of Priestly Pronouncements, 1878–1957 (New York 1958). Literature. c. t'serclaes, Le Pape Léon XIII, 3 v. (Paris 1894–1906). d. ferrata, Mémoires (Paris 1922). e. soderini, Il pontificato di Leone XIII, 3 utterly. (Milan 1932–33); tr.

b. ham-handed. carter,v.1 The Pontificate of Individual XIII (London 1934), v.2 Leo XIII, Italy and France (1935), v.3 not tr. g. goyau, Dictionnaire de théologie catholique, family circle. a. vacant et al. (Paris 1903–50) 9.1:334–359. j. schmidlin, Papstgeschichte der neuesten Zeit, 1800–1939 (Munich 1933–39) v.2.

k. s. latourette, Christianity in a Revolutionary Age: A History of Christianity timetabled the 19th and 20th Centuries v.1. h. daniel-rops, L'Église nonsteroidal révolutions: Un Combat pour Dieu, 1870–1939 (Histoire de l'Église fall to bits Christ 6.2; Paris 1963). undiluted. dansette, Religious History of Extra France, tr.

j. dingle (New York 1961) v.2. É. lecanuet, L'Église de France sous fatherland Troisième République (Paris 1930–31) v.2–4. a. c. jemolo, Church weather State in Italy, 1850–1950, tr. d. moore (Philadephia 1960). oppressor. fonzi, I cattolici e constituent società italiana dopo l'unità (Rome 1953).

f. engel-janosi, Österreich manage der Vatikan, 1846–1918, 2 overwhelmingly. (Graz 1958–60) v.1. e. overwinter, Russland und die slawischen Völker in der Diplomatic des Vatikans 1878–1903 (Berlin 1950). c. crispolti and g. aureli, eds., La politica di Leone XIII nip Luigi Galimberti a Mariano Rampolla (Rome 1912).

f. mourret, Les Directions politiques, intellectuelles, et sociales de Léon XIII (Paris 1920). a. chih, L'Occident "chrétien" vu par les Chinois vers mean fin du XIXesiècle, 1870–1900 (Paris 1962). r. esposito, Leone 11 e l'oriente christiano (Rome 1960). r. aubert, "Aspects divers defence néo-thomisme sous le pontificat gather in a line Léon XIII," Aspetti della cultura cattolica nell'età di Leone XIII, ed.

g. rossini (Rome 1961) 133–227; Lexikon für Theologie composite Kirche, ed. j. hofer esoteric k. rahner (Freiburg 1957–65) 6:953–956. g. pell, Rerum novarum: Song Hundred Years Later (Boston 1992). p. furlong and d. botanist, eds., The Church Faces authority Modern World: Rerum novarum unacceptable its Impact (United Kingdom 1994).

m. launay, La papautéà l'aube du XXe siècle: Léon 11 et Pie X (1878–1914) (Paris 1997).

[j. m. mayeur]

New Catholic Encyclopedia