Pope Leo XIII

Pope of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903

Pope Leo XIII (Latin: Leo PP. XIII; Italian: Leone XIII, March 2, 1810 — July 20, 1903), born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 257th Pope from 1878 until his death.[1]

Pope

Leo XIII
Papacy beganFebruary 20, 1878
Papacy endedJuly 20, 1903
PredecessorPope Pius IX
SuccessorPope Pius X
Personal details
Birth nameVincenzo Gioacchino Raffaelle Luigi Pecci
BornMarch 2, 1810
Carpineto Romano, département of Rome, French Empire
DiedJuly 20, 1903(1903-07-20) (aged 93)
Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
MottoLumen in coelo
Other popes named Leo

Monsignore

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Pope Gregory XVI granted Pecci the title Monsignore.[2] In 1903, there were Golden Jubilee celebrations which recalled the 50 years since he was named a cardinal.[3]

In 1846, he visited London where he had an audience with Queen Victoria.[4]

Bishop

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Pecci was Bishop of Perugia for thirty-two years, from 1846 to 1878.[5]

Cardinal

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Pope Pius IX raised him to the rank of cardinal in 1853.[2]

In 1878, Cardinal Pecci was elected Pope.[6]

After his election, Pope Leo never went outside the gates of the Vatican.[2]

Pope Leo was in office until the age of 93. He was the oldest pope and had the second longest papal reign before Pope John Paul II. He is known as the "Pope of the Working Man."

Age age 93, the pope died from pneumonia and old age.[7]

After his death

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The pope lay in State in St. Peter's Basilica. His final resting place is the Basilica of St. John Lateran,[2] which is the official seat of the Bishop of Rome.

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References

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The Coat of Arms of Leo XIII
  1. "List of Popes," Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2013-3-18.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "The Life and Personality of the Dead Pope," New York Times. July 21, 1903; retrieved 2011-11-10.
  3. "Leo XIIIs Jubilee," New York Times. February 22, 1903; retrieved 2011-10-30.
  4. "Leo and Victoria," New York Times. March 3, 1899; retrieved 2011-11-10.
  5. "Pope Leo XIII," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-10-27.
  6. "Election of Pope Leo XIII," New York Times. February 21, 1878; retrieved 2011-10-30.
  7. "Pope Leo XIII Passes Away," New York Times. July 21, 1903; retrieved 2011-10-30.

Other websites

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  Media related to Leo XIII at Wikimedia Commons


Preceded by
Pius IX
Pope
1878–1903
Succeeded by
Pius X