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This week in Christian history: Falwell loses at Supreme Court; UMC backs traditional marriage

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Twitter

Leo XIII elected pope – Feb. 20, 1878

A portrait, circa 1898, of Pope Leo XIII.
A portrait, circa 1898, of Pope Leo XIII. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci was elected head of the Roman Catholic Church, replacing the late Pope Pius IX and becoming Pope Leo XIII.

A cardinal who was elected on the third ballot, Leo XIII was known for his denunciations of ideas like secular liberalism and freemasonry while also supporting more positive relationships with civil governments and some non-Catholic denominations.

“Leo XIII succeeded in gaining great prestige for the papacy, as was shown by the increase in countries having diplomatic relations with the Vatican, even non-Christian countries,” explains Britannica.

“Although his pontificate did not bring about many immediate changes in the relationship of the Roman Catholic Church to society, it did initiate many new attitudes that began to mature in succeeding decades.”

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