Leo XIII and the Spanish Warship
ONE of the curious incongruities of the pope’s assumption of the role of vicegerent of Christ, is the naming of a Spanish war ship Leo XIII. As Spain is an ultra-Catholic nation, its action in naming such a vessel after the pope was deemed an act of deference, and of course was approved by him. Christ is the “Prince of Peace,” and there could be no better proof that Leo XIII. is not his accredited chief ambassador than that pretender’s allowing himself to be represented by a war vessel—an engine of destruction, designed for the killing of men. But Spain instituted the Inquisition for the furtherance of papal influence and interest, and a pope’s name on one of her war ships is consistent, from that standpoint at least.