BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, October 14, 1823

More details arrive via the Florence newspapers regarding the new pope, elected on September 28, 1823. “In the Scrutinium [voting proceedings] of that morning, His Eminence Cardinal Anibale Della Genga was elected Head of the Church; he has assumed the name Leo XII. This most fortunate event was announced in the usual way. The whole Roman people gathered in large numbers before the Quirinal palaces, and listened with the liveliest joy. They greeted the new pope with the loudest cheers when His Holiness left said palace around 9 p.m. and went to the Vatican Basilica (St. Peter’s Church) to sit there at the Altar of the Tribune and there received the customary and conventional homage of the Holy College. His Eminence Cardinal della Somaglia has been selected as Secretary of State by the new Pope. Leo XII was born on August 2nd, 1760 in Spoleto. He was elevated to Cardinal on March 8, 1816, along with 12 others, and it is to be noted that he was the first appointed in the Consistory held at that time.”

Today’s Wiener Zeitung, at 959. A fuller account will follow in tomorrow’s newspaper.