Another great video, of a great Pope May 12, 2010
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, General Catholic.trackback
Thanks to Patrick Madrid, here is the oldest known video of a Pope. It’s from 1896 (the year my maternal grandfather was born), and shows then 85 year old Pope Leo XIII:
Pope Leo XIII reigned for 25 years, from 1878 to 1903. He was the oldest pope, dying at age 93. A staunch critic of socialism (see why I love him), Pope Leo XIII defined much Church doctrine on economic issues in Rerum Novarum. Interestingly, he did not state that support for abortion could be included in a package of greater social justice benefits. I’m sure he was intending to get around to that.
Pope Leo XIII also encouraged Scripture reading by all Catholics. You can still gain a plenary indulgence, granted by Leo XIII in Providentissimus Deus, by reading Sacred Scripture for 15 minutes every day for a month. Way to go Leo!