LEO XII., CARDINAL ANNIDALE DELLA GENOA, born in 1760, of noble family of the Romagna, was employed as nuncio to Germany and France, by Pius VII., who made him a cardinal in 1316. On the death of Pius VII. he was elected pope, in September 1823. He was well acquainted with diplomacy and foreign politics, and in the exer cise of his authority, and in asserting the claims of his see be assumed a more imperious tone than his meek and benevolent pre decessor. lie re-established the right of asylum for criminals in the churches, and enforced the strict observance of meagre clays. He was a declared en. my of the Carbonari and other secret societies. lie proclaimed a jubilee for the year 1825; and in his circular letter accompanying the bull, addressed to the patriarchs, primates, arch bishops, and bishops, be made a violent attack on the Bible Societies, as acting in opposition to the decree of the Council of Trent, session iv., concerning the publication and use of the Sacred Books.
Leo also entered into negociations with the new states of South America, for the sake of filling up the vacant sees. He gave a new organisation to the university of the Sapienza at Rome, which con sista of five colleges or faculties, namely, theology, law, medicine, philosophy, and philology; and he increased the number of the pro fessors, and raised their emoluments. He published in October 1824, a Moto Proprio, or decree, reforming the administration of the Papal State, and also the administration of justice, or Procedure Civile, and he fixed the fees to be paid by the litigant parties. He corrected several abuses, and studied to maintain order and a good police in his territories. He died in February 1829, and was succeeded by Pius VIIL