LEO XIII. (ante), The conclave of cardinals convened Feb. 18, 1878; and on the 20th, cardinal Peeci, archbishop of Perugia, received 45 votes, and was declared pope, assuming the above name. He at once made known the fact of his election to the great powers, and tie first act of his pontificate was to restore the Roman Catholic hierarchy w to Scotland, which was done on Mar. 4, 1878. by letter apostolic. The episcopal sees of St. Andrews and Glasgow were restored, and those of Aberdeen, Argyll, Dunkeld, the Isles, and Whithorn or Galloway, were created. Pope Leo cardinal Franeln secretary of stale awl master of the sacred palaces; cardinal Simeon' secretary of the Propaganda; cardinal Sacconi prodatary; and cardinal Morochini chamberlain. He issued his first encyclical letter in April, in which he specifically set forth a long cata logue of the evils afflicting human society—crimes, errors, and misdemeanors; attribu ting all of these to the departure of those concerned in them from the Roman Catholic church. Describing the present age as being "in hitter antagonism to religion and the church of Christ," he proceeded to attribute to the papal authority all that had ever been of good, precedent to this miserable condition, asserting that it was the glory of the popes "that they ever stood as a wall and a bulwark to prevent human society from sinking back again into its former barbarism and superstition." The encyclical con tinued by claiming temT,oral authority as the prerogative of the papacy, and urging the faithful to persevere and persist in asserting and sustaining the claim. He demanded that education should be made "conformable in science and discipline to the Catholic faith;" attacked the custom of civil marriages; recommended the encouragement of " those associations which have principally been established of late years to the great advantage of Catholic interests;" and closed with a testimonial to the united condition of the church as against its enemies. The new pope continued to hold the antagonistic attitude sustained by his predecessor against king Humbert of Italy, and declared the governmental prohibition of religious instruction in the Italian schools to be a "very reprehensible measure." On the death of cardinal Franchi, he appointed cardinal Nina to the position which had been held by the former. On July 20, 1878, under the direction of the pope, the congregation of the propaganda issued "Instructions," direct ing the introduction of the canon law into the Roman Catholic church in the United States that country having hitherto been regarded as a missionary field. In 1870 the pope issued
an encyclical letter aimed at the doctrines of the Socialists, Communists. and Nihilists; which was, by order of the czar, read in all the Roman Catholic churches in Russia. By his reception on Feb. 22 of a large number of Catholic journalists, the pope recognized the power of the press. During this year, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the definition of the Immaculate Conception was celebrated with pomp, the pope issuing an encyclical on the occasion. In all things the pope has thus far patterned his conduct and his opinions after those of Pius IX., and had sustained at their highest altitude the claims of the church concerning its authority and prerogative. Since this time, however, as is claimed by acute observers, there are signs of a far more comprehensive grasp and larger liberality than were intellectually possible to his sincere and estimable predecessor. The present pontifical administration seems aiming successfully at the unification of the opposing principles and tendencies which undeniably exist in the great, church; and while upholding in full vigor the official demands of the Roman see, to seek application of the ancient principles in a spirit not unfriendly to the governing forces of modern Christendom. It is probable,that the time has not yet conic for a just estimate of this pontificate; while there has appeared sufficient reason for ascribing to the pope high intellectual and administrative ability, and personal moral excellence.
LEO, HErxmcn, b. at Rudolstadt; Germany, 1790. He resolved at first upon tho study of medicine, but, under the influence of Turnvater Jahn. turned his attention to history, and took an active part with the students at Jena and Gottingen in the agita tions of the period. Breaking away from these surroundings, lie went to Italy under the patronage of the princess of Rudolstadt, and on his return avowed himself an enthusiastic admirer of Hegel. In 1828 he became professor in history at the university in Halle, and during the next few years wrote several works, in which he followed more or less closely the philosophy of his great master. Subsequently, however, he changed his position, adopting Hengstenberg as his leader, and attacking energetically the ideas of Hegel. Under the influence of this reactionary tendency he wrote several works.