Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1893 — POPE LEO XIII. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POPE LEO XIII.

n»e Remarkable Pontiff Who Ralaa the -Catholic World. Pope Leo, the remarkable pontiff who rules the Catholic world from the balls of the Vatican, is one of the most learned Popes who everoccupied the See of Peter, and in him is renewed the most heroic period of the church’s history. Even those who do not believe in his religious convictions or political opinions regard him as one of the ablest rulers and astute statesmen of the century. Leo XIII. is now 82'years old, and is a man of remarkable vitality, four secretaries of state having passed away from-his side since his accession to the holy office in 1878. Warnings of his probable speedy dissolution have been given out, jet In view of the remarkable longevity of the Roman pontiffs it would not be strange if he should survive several years yet. The Pope leads a most simple life, and all his duties follow one another with the regularity of clockwork. The great Cathedral of St. Peter’s, where the Pope officiates on state occasions and in which he celebrated mass Sunday before an assemblage of 60,000 people, is perhaps the grandest structure in existence. Gibbon calls it the most glorious structure that has ever been applied to the use of

religion. The cathedral was dedicated by Urban VIII., in 1226. The 1 uilding from its foundation until dedication ocupied 175 years, and if we include the work done under Pius VL, three and a half centuries passed before it was completed, during which forty-three Popes reigned. Externally the work is magnificent in materials and dimensions, while the dome and interior are unrivaled in magnitude, proportion and decoration. The space in front of the church is inclosed by a colonnade in the form of a circle, as shown in the illustration. This was the work of an eminent sculptor, Bernini, and was executed under Pope Alexander VII. Adjoining St. Peter’s is the Vatican palace, where the Pope resides. The Vatican is a collection of buildings so extensive that its actual capacity has never been definitely stated. One authority says it contains 200 stairways, 20 courts and 4,422 looms. Others place the num-

ter of rooms at 16,000 and some at 10,000. The principal entrance to the Vatican is by the bronze gates, which are always guarded by Swiss soldiers. The interior contains the masterpieces of Michael Angelo,

Raphael and other masters. Contiguous to the Vatican is the castle of Saint Angelo. The structure is circular in form and was built by the Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum.

POPS MO WHEN MADE SUPREME lONTIFF.

AN ENTRANCE TO THE VATICAN, WITH THB SWISS GUARD,

THE POPE'S BEDROOM.