Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1878 — PIUS IX. [ARTICLE]

PIUS IX.

Biographical Sketch of the Dead Roman rout iff. His life and Ins reign have both been prolonged, the latter beyond precedent. Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti was born May 13, 1792, in Sinigaglia, His parents intended him for the military profession. In 1802 he attended the college at Vattena, and in 1808 began at Rome his theological studies. In 1818, at the age of 26, he was ordained a priest, and in 1823 he accompanied the jPapal Legate to the newly-formed republic of Chili, and for two years resided in Santiago. In 1825, on his return to Romo, he was appointed President of a hospital, and two yeanTlater was appoined Archbishop of Spoletto. He was then 35 years of age. During the political disturbances of 1830—’31, he was Civil Administrator of the provinces of Spoletto and Perugia, displaying great ability in his civil duties. In 1832, he was translated to the See of Imola, and in December, 1839, was appointed CardinalPriest by Pope Gregory XVI. That Pope died in 1846, and on June 16, the college, by an unanimous vote, elected Cardinal Ferretti Pope. He was crowned Pope Juue 21, 1846, by the title of Pius IX. He has survived all those who par - ticipated in his ejection, aud the present College of Cardinals is exclusively of his own appointment. In this respect we suppose his reign is an exception. Though men holding the office of Pope have died at a more advanced age, there has been no other who had such a long reign, or who filled the days of Peter—that is served as Pope for twenty-five years. At the time of Lis death he lacked three months of being 86 years old ; had been a priest sixty, a Bishop fifty-one, a Cardinal thirty-eight, and Pope thirty-one years and seven months. Of the long list of 257 Popes, there have been but nine who served over twenty years. One of these, Pius VI., was Pope twenty-four years and six months. Twenty-five years is the term attributed to Peter, and no other Pope, exept Pius IX , has served a term of that length. Pius IX. began his reign by a general amnesty, and by a vigorous reform of the civil government of the Papal States, making personal investigations into abuses, and promptly applying the remedy. In 1847, he convened a popular council of delegates from the various provinces, and was looked upon idl over the world as the leading political reformer. The next year, 1848, revolutionary proceedings took place in all parts of Europe, and the Pope, refusing to approve or indorse the popular demands, ceased to be regarded as a reformer. In Rome he promised a liberal constitution, but his Ministry failed to satisfy the populace. A revolution took place; Count Rossi, the Minister of State, was killed, and the Romans forced the Pope to name a more radical Ministry. Declaring himself no longer free, he escaped to Gaeta. A republic was declared in Rome. He continued to reside at Gaeta until April, 1850, his authority having in the meantime been re-established by French arms. Among the many notable events of his Pontificate may be enumerated the following : 1852, re-established a Roman Catholic hierarchy in England ; 1854, after a convocation of Bishops, formally defined the dogma of the immaculate conception ; 1856, established English and American colleges at Rome ; 1862, canonized the Japanese martyrs ; 1864, the famous encyclical letter ; 1869-’7O, the convocation of the Council of the Vatican, and the declaration of the dogma of Papal infallibility. The political trials of Pius IX. have been almost continuous. He had been Pope but two years when he was forced to leave Rome by the revolutionists, and was restored two years after by a French army. In 1859 began the agitation fer the unification of Italy under one Government. The conquest of Lombardy, the annexation of Parma, Modena, and Tuscany, in were . s'gns that could not be mistaken. In 1861, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was overthrown, and that monarchy incorporated in the now recognized Kingdom of Italy. Then followed the annexation of Umbria and Ancona. These matters brought the King of Italy and the Pope into direct opposition. The Pope refused to recognize him as King of Italy, and there has been open contention ever since. The French army had been continued in Rome from 1848, and Rome was, by the intervention of the same Government, protected from Italian occupation; but in 1870, owing to the war with Prussia, France withdrew her troops, and in September of that year Italian troops entered the city. A popular vote taken soon after was in favor of annexation to Italy, and in January, 1871, Victor Emanuel entered Rome as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The protests of the Pope have been incessant and spirited. He has declared himself a prisoner in his own states, and no longer free in the discharge of his duties as spiritual father of the faithful. But no power has intervened in his behalf, and he has died, leaving the political states of his predecessors in the hands of the King of Italy. In June, 1877, was celebrated his golden jubilee of fifty years a Bishop. He was visited by pilgrims from all parts of the world, bearing to him large sums of money and other gifts.