Pope Leo XIII

Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99...

Born 2 March, 1810, at Carpineto; electedpope 20 February, 1878; died 20 July, 1903, atRome. Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi was the sixth of the seven sons of Count Lodovico Pecci and his wife Anna Prosperi-Buzi. There was somedoubt as to the nobility of the Peccifamily, and when the young Gioacchino sought admission to the Accademia dei Nobili inRome he met with a certain opposition, whereupon he wrote the history of hisfamily, showing that the Pecci of Carpineto were a branch of the Pecci ofSiena,obliged toemigrate to thePapal States in the first half of the sixteenth century, underClement VII, because they had sided with theMedici.

At the age of eight, together with his brother Giuseppe, aged ten, he was sent to study at the newJesuitschool inViterbo, the presentseminary. He remained there six years (1818-24), and gained that classical facility in the use of Latin and Italian afterwards justly admired in his official writings and his poems. Much credit for this is due to his teacher, Padre Leonardo Garibaldi. When, in 1824, the Collegio Romano was given back to theJesuits, Gioacchino and his brother Giuseppe entered as students of humanities and rhetoric. At the end of his rhetoric course Gioacchino was chosen to deliver the address in Latin, and selected as his subject, "The Contrast between Pagan and ChristianRome". Not less successful was his three years' course ofphilosophy and naturalsciences.

He remained yet uncertain as to his calling, though it had been the wish of his mother that he should embrace theecclesiastical state. Like many other young Romans of the period who aimed at a public career, he took up meanwhile the study oftheology as well as canon andcivil law. Among his professors were the famoustheologianPerrone and the scripturistPatrizi. In 1832 he obtained the doctorate oftheology, whereupon, after the difficulties referred to above, he asked and obtained admission to the Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics, and entered upon the study of canon andcivil law at the Sapienza University. Thanks to his talents, and to the protection of Cardinals Sala andPacca, he was appointed domesticprelate byGregory XVI in January, 1837, while still inminor orders, and in March of that year was made "referendario della Segnatura", which office he soon exchanged for one in the Congregazione del Buon Governo, or Ministry of the Interior for thePontifical States, of which his protector Cardinal Sala was at that time prefect. During the cholera epidemic inRome he ably assisted Cardinal Sala in hisduties as overseer of all the cityhospitals. Hiszeal and ability convinced Cardinal Sala that Pecci was fitted for larger responsibilities, and he again urged him to enter thepriesthood, hinting in addition that before long he might be promoted to a post where thepriesthood would benecessary. Yielding to these solicitations, he wasordainedpriest 31 Dec., 1837, byCardinal Odeschalchi, Vicar ofRome, in thechapel of St. Stanislaus on the Quirinal. The post hinted at by Cardinal Sala was that of Delegate or civil Governor ofBenevento, a city subject to theHoly See but situated in the heart of theKingdom of Naples. Its condition was very unsatisfactory; the brigands of theNeapolitan territory infested the country in great numbers, survivals of the Napoleonic Wars and the guerrilla of the Sanfedisti.Gregory XVI thought a young and energetic delegatenecessary.Cardinal Lambruschini, secretary of state, and Cardinal Sala suggested the name of Mgr. Pecci, who set out forBenevento 2 February, 1838. On his recovery from an attack of typhoid fever, he set to work to stamp out brigandage, and soon his vigilance, indomitable purpose, and fearless treatment of the nobles who protected the brigands and smugglers, pacified the whole province. Aided by thenuncio atNaples, Mgr. di Pietro, the youthful delegate drew up an agreement with theNaples police for united action against brigands. He also turned his attention to the roads and highways, and arranged for a more just distribution of taxes andduties, until then the same as those imposed by the invading French, and, though exorbitant, exacted with the greatest rigour. Meanwhile theHoly See andNaples were discussing the exchange ofBenevento for a stretch ofNeapolitan territory bordering on thePapal States. When Mgr. Pecci heard of this he memorialized theHoly See so strongly against it that the negotiations were broken off.

The results obtained in three years by the delegate atBenevento ledGregory XVI to entrust another delegation to him where a strongpersonality was required, though for very different reasons. He was first destined forSpoleto, but on 17 July, 1841, he was sent toPerugia, a hotbed of the anti-papal revolutionary party. For three years he improved the material conditions of his territory and introduced a more expeditious and economical administration ofjustice. He also began a savings bank to assist small tradesmen and farmers with loans at a low rate of interest, reformededucational methods, and was otherwise active for the common welfare.

In January, 1843, he was appointednuncio toBrussels, as successor of Mgr. Fornari, appointednuncio atParis. On 19 Feb., he wasconsecrated titularArchbishop of Damiata byCardinal Lambruschini, and set out for his post. On his arrival he found rather critical conditions. Theschool question was warmly debated between theCatholic majority and the Liberal minority. He encouraged thebishops and thelaity in their struggle forCatholicschools, yet he was able to win the good will of the Court, not only of thepious Queen Louise, but also of King Leopold I, strongly Liberal in his views. The newnuncio succeeded in uniting theCatholics, and to him is owing theidea of aBelgian college inRome (1844). He made a journey (1845) throughRhenish Prussia (Cologne,Mainz,Trier), and owing to his vigilance theschismatic agitation of thepriest Ronge, on the occasion of the exposition of the Holy Coat ofTrier in 1844, did not affectBelgium. Meanwhile theSee of Perugia becamevacant, andGregory XVI, moved by the wishes of thePerugians and the needs of that city and district, appointed Mgr. PecciBishop ofPerugia, retaining however the title ofarchbishop.

With a very flattering autograph letter from King Leopold, Mgr. Pecci leftBrussels to spend a month inLondon and another inParis. This brought him in touch with both courts, and afforded him opportunities for meeting many eminent men, among othersWiseman, afterwardscardinal. Rich in experience and in newideas, and with greatly broadened views, he returned toRome on 26 May, 1846, where he found thepope on his deathbed, so that he was unable to report to him. He made his solemn entry intoPerugia 27 July, 1846, where he remained for thirty-two years.Gregory XVI had intended to make him acardinal, but his death and the events that troubled the opening years of the pontificate ofPius IX postponed thishonour until 19 December, 1853.Pius IX desired to have him near hisperson, and repeatedly offered him asuburbicarian see, but Mgr. Pecci preferredPerugia, and perhaps was not in accord withCardinal Antonelli. It is certainlyuntrue thatPius IX designedly left him inPerugia, much moreuntrue that he did so because Pecci's views were liberalistic and conciliatory. AsBishop ofPerugia he sought chiefly to inculcatepiety andknowledge of thetruths of Faith. He insisted that hispriests should preach, and shouldcatechise not only the young but the grown up; and for this purpose he wished one hour in the afternoon set apart onSundays and feast days, thus forestalling one of the regulations laid down byPius X in 1905 for the whole Church. He brought out a new edition of thediocesancatechism (1856), and for hisclergy he wrote a practical guide for the exercise of the ministry (1857). He provided frequently for retreats and missions. After thePiedmontese occupation and the suppression of thereligious orders the number ofpriests was greatly diminished; to remedy this lack ofecclesiasticalministers, he established an association ofdiocesan missionaries ready to go wherever sent (1875). He sought to create a learned and virtuousclergy, and for this purpose spent much care on the material, moral, and scientific equipment of hisseminary, which he called the apple of his eye. Between 1846 and 1850 he enlarged its buildings at considerable personal sacrifice, secured excellent professors, presided at examinations, and himself gave occasional instruction. He introduced the study of the philosophy andtheology ofSt. Thomas, and in 1872 established an "Accademia di S. Tommaso", which he had planned as far back as 1858.

In 1872 also he introduced the government standards for studies of the secondaryschools and colleges. When the funds of theseminary were converted into state bonds, its revenues were seriously affected, and this entailed newsacrifices on thebishop. With the exception of a few troublesomepriests who relied on the protection of the new government, the discipline of theclergy was excellent. For the assistance of manypriests impoverished by the confiscation of church funds, he instituted in 1873 the Society of S. Gioacchino, and for charitable works generally, conferences ofSt. Vincent de Paul. He remodelled manyeducational institutions for the young and began others, for the care of which he invited fromBelgiumnuns of the Sacred Heart and Brothers of Mercy. During his episcopate thirty-six new churches were built in the diocese. His charity and foresight worked marvels during the famine of 1854, consequent on the earthquake which had laid waste a large part of Umbria. Throughout the political troubles of the period, he was a strong supporter of the temporal power of theHoly See, but he was careful to avoid anything that might give the new government pretext for further annoyances.

Shortly after his arrival inPerugia there occurred a popular commotion which his personal intervention succeeded in appeasing. In 1849, when bands of Garibaldians expelled fromRome were infesting the Umbrian hills, the Austrians under Prince Liechtenstein hastened to occupyPerugia, but Mgr. Pecci, realizing that this foreign occupation would only increase the irritation of the inhabitants, set out for the Austrian camp and succeeded in saving the town from occupation. In 1859 a few outlaws set up inPerugia a provisional government; when thecardinal heard that, few as they were, they were preparing to resist the pontifical troops advancing under Colonel Schmidt he wrote a generous letter to try and dissuade them from their mad purpose and to avoid a useless shedding of blood. Unfortunately they spurned his advice, and the result was the so-called "Massacre of Perugia" (20 June). In February, 1860, he wrote a pastoral letter on the necessity of the temporal power of theHoly See; but on 14 September of that yearPerugia and Umbria were annexed toPiedmont. In vain he besought General Fanti not to bombard the town; and during the first years that followed the annexation he wrote, either in his own name or in the name of thebishops of Umbria, eighteen protests against the variouslaws and regulations of the new Government onecclesiastical matters: againstcivil marriage, the suppression of thereligious orders and the inhuman cruelty of their oppressors, the "Placet" and"Exequatur" inecclesiastical nominations, military service forecclesiastics, and the confiscation ofchurch property. But withal he was so cautious and prudent, in spite of his outspokenness, that he was never in serious difficulties with thecivil power. Only once was he brought before the courts, and then he was acquitted.

In August, 1877, on the death of Cardinal de Angelis,Pius IX appointed him camerlengo, so that he wasobliged to reside inRome.Pope Pius died 7 February, 1878, and during his closing years the Liberal press had often insinuated that the Italian Government should take a hand in theconclave and occupy the Vatican. However the Russo-Turkish War and the sudden death of Victor Emmanuel II (9 January, 1878) distracted the attention of the Government, theconclave proceeded as usual, and after the three scrutinies Cardinal Pecci was elected by forty-four votes out of sixty-one

Shortly before this he had written an inspiring pastoral to his flock on theChurch and civilization. Ecclesiastical affairs were in a difficult and tangled state.Pius IX, it istrue, had won for thepapacy thelove and veneration ofChristendom, and even the admiration of its adversaries. But, though inwardly strengthened, its relations with thecivil powers had either ceased or were far from cordial. But the fine diplomatic tact of Leo succeeded in staving off ruptures, in smoothing over difficulties, and in establishing good relations with almost all the powers.

Throughout his entire pontificate he was able to keep on good terms withFrance, and he pledged himself to its Government that he would call on allCatholics to accept the Republic. But in spite of his efforts very few monarchists listened to him, and towards the end of his life he beheld the coming failure of his French policy, though he was spared the pain of witnessing the final catastrophe which not even he could have averted. It was to Leo thatFrance owed her alliance withRussia; in this way he offset the Triple Alliance, hoped to ward off impending conflicts, and expected friendly assistance for the solution of the Roman question. WithGermany he was more fortunate. On the very day of his election, when notifying the emperor of the event, he expressed the hope of seeing relations with the German Government re-established, and, though the emperor's reply was coldly civil, the ice was broken. Soon Bismarck, unable to govern with theLiberals, to win whose favour he had started theKulturkampf, found he needed theCentre Party, orCatholics, and was willing to come to terms. As early as 1878 negotiations began at Kissingen between Bismarck and Aloisi-Masella, thenuncio toMunich; they were carried a step farther atVenice between thenuncio Jacobini and Prince von Reuss; soon after this some of thePrussianlaws against theChurch were relaxed. From about 1883bishops began to be appointed to various sees, and some of the exiledbishops were allowed to return. By 1884 diplomatic relations were renewed, and in 1887 amodus vivendi betweenChurch and State was brought about. Bismarck proposed that Pope Leo should arbitrate betweenGermany andSpain. The good feeling withGermany found expression in the three visits paid Leo by William II (1888, 1893, and 1903), whose father also, when crown prince (1883) had visited the Vatican. As a sort ofquid pro quo Bismarck thought thepope ought to use his authority to prevent theCatholics from opposing some of his political schemes. Only once did Leo interfere in a parliamentary question, and then his advice was followed. In 1880 relations with theBelgian Government were again broken off à propos of theschool question, on the pretext that thepope was lending himself to duplicity, encouraging thebishops to resist, and pretending to the Government that he was urging moderation. As a matter of fact, the suppression of theBelgian embassy to the Vatican had been settled on before theschool question arose. In 1883 the newCatholic Government restored it. During Pope Leo's pontificate the condition of theChurch inSwitzerland improved somewhat, especially in the Ficino, in Aargau, and in Basle. InRussia Soloviev's attempt on Alexander II (14 April, 1879) and the silver jubilee of that czar's reign (1888) gave thepope an opportunity to attempt arapprochement. But it was not until afterAlexander III came to the throne (1883) that an agreement was reached, by which a fewepiscopal sees were tolerated and some of the more stringentlaws against theCatholicclergy slightly relaxed. But when in 1884, Leo consented to present to the czar a petition from theRuthenianCatholics against the oppression they had to suffer, thepersecution only increased in bitterness. In the last year ofAlexander III (May, 1894) diplomatic relations were re-established. On the day of his election, Leo had expressed to this emperor the wish to see diplomatic relations restored; Alexander, like William, though more warmly, answered in a non-committal manner. In the meantime Leo was careful to exhort the Poles under Russian domination to be loyal subjects.

Among the acts of Leo XIII that affected in a particular way the English-speaking world may be mentioned: forEngland, the elevation ofJohn Henry Newman to thecardinalate (1879), the "Romanos Pontifices" of 1881 concerning the relations of thehierarchy and theregularclergy, thebeatification (1886) of fiftyEnglish martyrs, the celebration of the thirteenth centenary ofSt. Gregory the Great, Apostle ofEngland (1891), the Encyclicals "Ad Anglos" of 1895, on the return toCatholic unity, and the "Apostolicæ Curæ" of 1896, on the non-validity of theAnglican orders. He restored the Scotchhierarchy in 1878, and in 1898 addressed to the Scotch a very touching letter. In EnglishIndia Pope Leo established thehierarchy in 1886, and regulated there long-standing conflicts with the Portugese authorities. In 1903 King Edward VII paid him a visit at the Vatican. TheIrish Church experienced his pastoral solicitude on many occasions. His letter to Archbishop McCabe ofDublin (1881), the elevation of the sameprelate to thecardinalate in 1882, the calling of theIrishbishops toRome in 1885, thedecree of the Holy Office (13 April, 1888) on the plan of campaign andboycotting, and the subsequentEncyclical of 24 June, 1888, to theIrishhierarchy represent in part his fatherly concern for theIrish people, however diverse the feelings they aroused at the height of the land agitation.

TheUnited States at all times attracted the attention and admiration of Pope Leo. He confimed the decrees of the ThirdPlenary Council of Baltimore (1884), and raised to thecardinalate Archbishop Gibbons of that city (1886). His favourable action (1888), at the instance of Cardinal Gibbons, towards the Knights of Labour won him general approval. In 1889 he sent apapal delegate,Monsignor Satolli, to represent him at Washington on the occasion of the foundation of theCatholic University of America. The Apostolic Delegation at Washington was founded in 1892; in the same year appeared hisEncyclical on Christopher Columbus. In 1893 he participated in theChicago Exposition held to commemorate the fourth centenary of the discovery of America; this he did by the loan of valuablerelics, and by sendingMonsignor Satolli to represent him. In 1895 he addressed to thehierarchy of theUnited States his memorableEncyclical "Longinqua Oceani Spatia"; in 1898 appeared his letter "Testem Benevolentiæ" to Cardinal Gibbons on "Americanism"; and in 1902 his admirable letter to the Americanhierarchy in response to their congratulations on his pontifical jubilee. InCanada he confirmed the agreement made with theProvince of Quebec (1889) for the settlement of the Jesuit Estates question, and in 1897 sent Monsignor Merry del Val to treat in his name with the Government concerning the obnoxious Manitoba School Law. His name will also long be held in benediction in South America for the First Plenary Council of Latin America held atRome (1899), and for his nobleEncyclical to thebishops ofBrazil on the abolition of slavery (1888).

InPortugal the Government ceased to support the Goanschism, and in 1886 a concordat was drawn up. Concordats with Montenegro (1886) and Colombia (1887) followed. The Sultan of Turkey, the Shah ofPersia, the Emperors ofJapan and ofChina (1885), and the Negus ofAbyssinia, Menelik, sent him royal gifts and received gifts from him in return. His charitable intervention with the negus in favour of theItalians takenprisoners at the unlucky battle of Adna (1898) failed owing to the attitude taken by those who ought to have been most grateful. He was not successful in establishing direct diplomatic relations with the Sublime Porte and withChina, owing to the jealousy ofFrance and her fear of losing the protectorate overChristians. During the negotiations concerningchurch property in thePhilippines, Mr. Taft, later President of theUnited States, had an opportunity of admiring thepope's great qualities, as he himself declared on a memorable occasion.

With regard to theKingdom of Italy, Leo XIII maintainedPius IX's attitude of protest, thus confirming theideas he had expressed in his pastoral of 1860. He desired complete independence for theHoly See, and consequently its restoration as a real sovereignty. Repeatedly, when distressing incidents took place inRome, he sent notes to the various governments pointing out the intolerable position in which theHoly See was placed through its subjection to a hostile power. For the same reason he upheld the "Non expedit", or prohibition againstItalianCatholics taking part in political elections. Hisidea was that once theCatholics abstained from voting, the subversive elements in the country would get the upper hand and the Italian Government beobliged to come to terms with theHoly See. Eventsproved he was mistaken, and theidea was abandoned byPius X. At one time, however, "officious" negotiations were kept up between theHoly See and the Italian Government through the agency of Monsignor Carini, Prefect of the Vatican Library and a great friend of Crispi. But it is not known on what lines they were conducted. On Crispi's part there could have been no question of ceding any territory to theHoly See.France, moreover, then irritated againstItaly because of the Triple Alliance, and fearing that anyrapprochement between the Vatican and the Quirinal would serve to increase her rival's prestige, interfered and forced Leo to break off the aforesaid negotiations by threatening to renew hostilities against theChurch inFrance. The death of Monsignor Carini shortly after this (25 June, 1895) gave rise to the senseless rumour that he had been poisoned. Pope Leo was no less active concerning the interior life of theChurch. To increase thepiety of thefaithful, he recommended in 1882 theThird Order of St. Francis, whose rules in 1883 he wisely modified; he instituted the feast of the Holy Family, and desiredsocieties in itshonour to be founded everywhere (1892); many of his encyclicals preach the benefits of theRosary; and he favoured greatly devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Under Leo theCatholicFaith made great progress; during his pontificate two hundred and forty-eight episcopal orarchiepiscopal sees were created, and forty-eight vicariates or prefectures Apostolic.Catholics of Oriental rites were objects of special attention; he had the good fortune to see the end of theschism which arose in 1870 between theUniatArmenians and ended in 1879 by the conversion of Mgr. Kupelian and otherschismaticalbishops. He founded acollege atRome forArmenianecclesiastical students (1884), and by dividing thecollege of S. Atanasio he was able to give theRuthenians acollege of their own; already in 1882 he had reformed theRuthenianOrder of St. Basil; for the Chaldeans he founded atMossul aseminary of which theDominicans have charge. In a memorable encyclical of 1897 he appealed to all the schismatics of the East, inviting them to return to the Universal Church, and laying down rules for governing the relations between the various rites in countries of mixed rites. Even among theCopts his efforts at reunion made headway.

Theecclesiasticalsciences found a generous patron in Pope Leo. HisEncyclical"Æterni Patris" (1880) recommended the study ofScholastic philosophy, especially that ofSt. Thomas Aquinas, but he did not advise a servile study. InRome he established the Apollinare College, a higher institute for the Latin, Greek, and Italian classics. At his suggestion aBohemian college was founded atRome. AtAnagni he founded and entrusted to theJesuits acollege for all thedioceses of the Roman Campagna, on which are modelled the provincial or "regional"seminaries desired byPius X. Historical scholars are indebted to him for the opening of the Vatican Archives (1883), on which occasion he published a splendid encyclical on the importance of historical studies, in which he declares that theChurch has nothing to fear from historicaltruth. For the administration of the Vatican Archives and Library he called on eminent scholars (Hergenröther,Denifle, Ehrle; repeatedly he tried to obtainJanssen, but the latter declined, as he was eager to finish his "History of the German People"). For the convenience of students of the archives and thelibrary he established a consultinglibrary. TheVatican Observatory is also one of the glories of Pope Leo XIII. To exciteCatholic students to rival non-Catholics in the study of the Scriptures, and at the same time to guide their studies, he published the "Providentissimus Deus" (1893), which won the admiration even ofProtestants, and in 1902 he appointed aBiblical Commission. Also, to guard against the dangers of the new style ofapologetics founded onKantism and now known asModernism, he warned in 1899 the Frenchclergy (Encycl. "Au Milieu"), and before that, in aBrief addressed to Cardinal Gibbons, he pointed out the dangers of certain doctrines to which had been given the name of "Americanism" (22 Jan., 1899). In theBrief"Apostolicæ Curæ" (1896) he definitively decided against the validity ofAnglican Orders. In several other memorable encyclicals he treated of the most serious questions affecting modernsociety. They are models of classical style, clearness of statement, and convincinglogic. The most important are: "Arcanum divinæ sapientiæ" (1880) onChristian marriage; "Diuturnum illud" (1881), and "Immortale Dei" (1885) onChristianity as the foundation of political life; "Sapientiæ christianæ" (1890) on theduties of aChristian citizen; "Libertas" (1888) on the real meaning of liberty; "Humanum genus" (1884) againstFreemasonry (he also issued other documents bearing on this subject).

Civilization owes much to Leo for his stand on the social question. As early as 1878, in his encyclical on the equality of all men, he attacked the fundamentalerror of Socialism. TheEncyclical "Rerum novarum" (18 May, 1891) set forth with profound erudition theChristian principles bearing on the relations between capital and labour, and it gave a vigorous impulse to the social movement alongChristian lines. InItaly, especially, an intense, well-organized movement began; but gradually dissensions broke out, some leaning too much towards Socialism and giving to the words"Christian Democracy" a political meaning, while otherserred by going to the opposite extreme. In 1901 appeared theEncyclical "Graves de Communi", destined to settle the controverted points. The "Catholic Action" movement inItaly was recognized, and to the "Opera dei Congressi" was added a second group that took for its watchword economic-social action. Unfortunately this latter did not last long, andPius X had to create a new party which has not yet overcome its internal difficulties.

Under Leo thereligious orders developed wonderfully; new orders were founded, older ones increased, and in a short time made up for the losses occasioned by theunjust spoliation they had been subjected to. Along every line of religious andeducational activity they haveproved no small factor in the awakening and strengthening of theChristian life of the whole country. For their better guidance wise constitutions were issued; reforms were made; orders such as theFranciscans andCistercians, which in times past had divided off into sections, were once more united; and theBenedictines were given an abbot-primate, who resides at St. Anselm's College, founded inRome under the auspices of Pope Leo (1883). Rules were laid down concerning members ofreligious orders who became secularized.

In canon law Pope Leo made no radical change, yet no part of it escaped his vigilance, and opportune modifications were made as the needs of the times required. On the whole his pontificate of twenty-five years was certainly, in external success, one of the most brilliant. It istrue the general peace between nations favoured it. The people were tired of that anticlericalism which had led governments to forget their real purpose, i.e. the well-being of the governed; and, on the other hand, prudent statesmen feared excessive catering to the elements subversive ofsociety. Leo himself used every endeavour to avoid friction. His three jubilees (the golden jubilees of hispriesthood and of his episcopate, and the silver jubilee of his pontificate) showed how wide was the popular sympathy for him. Moreover, his appearance either at Vatican receptions or in St. Peter's was always a signal for outbursts of enthusiasm. Leo was far from robust in health, but the methodical regularity of his life stood him in good stead. He was a tireless worker, and always exacted more than ordinary effort from those who worked with him. The conditions of theHoly See did not permit him to do much for art, but he renewed theapse of theLateran Basilica, rebuilt its presbytery, and in the Vatican caused a few halls to bepainted.

CONTACT US |ADVERTISE WITH NEW ADVENT