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POPE PICS X., known as “the peasant pope, was born of peasant parentage June 2,1835, In the little village of Riese, in the province of Venice. He was the eldest of two brothers, and he bad six eisters. Following the custom of Italian peasants, the sisters never wore hats, and they were as simple folk after their brother's elevation as they were before.The family name of Pope Plus X. was Sarto, the Italian for “tailor.” lie was christened Giuseppe and was called “Beppo,” the diminutive of Giuseppe. by his mother and sisters. Even after he entered the Vatican he was still Beppo to the three unmarried sisters who lived near him and with whom he sjent many pleasant hours in the gardens of the Vatican.The early life of the future pope was much like that of other boys of his time and position. Tie was educated at the Salesian institute at Cottolengo and became a parish priest. It was only his unusual ability that enabled the future pontiff to complete his education, for his father had little money to spend, though the pin h of real poverty never touched the bumble family.The boy was aided materially by Abbe Tite Tosarni, who w as impressed by the mental ability the youth showed. It was through the abbe's efforts that young Sarto was able to go through school. The boy devoted himself to his books so sincerely that hia scholarship attracted much attention. He took many prizes in the primary school, and these resulted iu his being sent to college at Padua, one of the most noied universities in tie world.Divided His Food With Friend.Many stories have been told regard ing the liberality of Pius X. and of his willingness at all times to give anything and everything he possessed to those less fortunate than himself. There is no incident, however, in the pontiff’s career which stands out so prominently nud is as characteristic of the man as that which occurred while be was still u youth at school.f Made a Parish Priest in 1367.1 In lStrr he was appointed parish priest at Saizano, which was considered an important promotion, being a village of 3,500 souls. Still, he was ex-ceedingiy sorry to leave Tombolo, bav-j Ing become attached to the people. The peasants when he left made a most enthusiastic demonstration, crying “Viva Don Gitsseppff* while many I women whose children he had nursed I wept copiously.He distinguished himself so much at Salzano that he was kept there only two years, which is remarkable j In the career of an Italian pariah I priest. In 1875 be was elected chan | cellor of the bishopric of Treviso, then ) spiritual director of that seminary, judge of the ecclesiastical tribunal and I finally vicar general.I Pope Leo, who bad highly apprecl-j ated his cleverness, piety and mod esty, appointed Sarto in November. 18S4, ot the age of forty-nine years,| bishop of Mantua, where lie remained nine years, until 1SH3, when he was ! made a cardinal and appointed pafri j arch of Venice.! He there distinguished himself as n ! thorough reformer, suppressing all ! abuses, restoring the dignity of the clergy and the earnestness of religion.POPULAR WITH OFFICIALS.Caused Clash With Government, Then Gained Great Respect.From his appointment rose heated polemics between the holy see and the i Italian government. The latter, as • heir to the ancieut privileges granted j by the pope to the republic of Venice,| maintained that it had the right to 1 choose and appoint the patriarch. The i government, however, after having j long refused its exequatur, eventually I granted it to Sarto, who meanwhile j succeeded in gaining general esteem.| including that of the government otb I clals.I The Italian cabinet ministers had no feeling against Sarto personally. In fact, he might quite well have been j their choice If the papacy bad not j wished him, but it was a politicalPOPE FILS X.One day Beppo entered the home of ; an old peasant with whom he was ne quaiuted, only to find his friend bed- j ridden and In danger of starving to j death Of money Beppo had none, and he thereupon decided to share his food with the poor old fellow.Every day for nearly three months j the future puie ate only a small por- J tlon of the food provided by the semi- j nary, carrying the remainder to the Invalid. The sacrifice on Beppo’s part was brought to an end only by tbe death of the aged peasant.That Pius X. in his boyhood dayi j was as full of animal spirits and mis- j chievousncss as the average boy every- j where is evident from the remark made by an old farmer, now nearly ninety j years of age, living near Riese, who. on being told that Giuseppe Sarto had j been made pope, exclaimed“Not Beppo—not thai little rascal 1Many are tbe cherries be has taken of!! iny trees, me underneath the tree with a stick and he bidding me defiance : and pelting me with stones.’’Plus X. was only twenty-three years of age when he was consecrated a priest at Caste! Franco, the birthplace of the great Master Giorgione, acting afterward for nine years as coadjutor to the parish priest of Tornbolo, prov ince of Padua, a small village of 3,000 people, who were the first to appreciate his virtues. His kfnduess was un tiring. He sought to fill their wants, and never a murmur was heard when he was called in tbe middle of a winter night to a deathbed which proved to be nothing of the kind. lie gave freely of his small means until be often went without meals himself, but he kept many a poor family from starvation.question on which, however, they soon gave way.Sarto became the idol of the Venetians. When his gondola went through the canals the people rushed on the bridges arid along the sides of the canals, kneeling and saluting, the women exclaiming, “God bless the patriarch ILearned to Love Venice.Cardinal Sarto learned to love Venice * ns Venice learned to love him. lie did not visit Rome more often than his duties demanded, and when asked if he enjoyed the gorgeousness of the papal court and the magnificence of the ftiue lions Sarto answered, “When I am there I feel like o fish out of water.While In Venice Cardinal Sarto retained many of the habits he hud acquired ns u curate. lie disliked publicity, detested the praise and compliments of courtiers and wns always cfrank, though timid. Though a high vdignitary in the church, he was on efriendly terms with the king and the *government. (
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Albert Lea Times Enterprise
Albert Lea, Minnesota, US
Wed, Aug 26, 1914
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USA 15 May 2025
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