Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-10-14
[FRoM THE PARIS CONSTITUTIONAL, AUGUST SOL
ELECTION OF A POPE.

fair In ChristendOm. The manner of giving
a head to the church has, like all other earth
ly things, undergone changes. The first four
l)0pes designated their successors; after that,
the clergy of Rome rendered themselves mas
tiers of the election. The emperors of the
west, the Greek kings, the successors of Char-
lemagne, afterwards obtained share in the
election but the Romans, gradually shaking
off their dependence on the emperors, no lou
ger invited tho foreign ambassadors TO the
election of the popes.
The clergy of Rome began insensibly to de-
prive the people of the share which they had
till then in the election, and excluded them
entirely towards the middle ofthe twelfth cen
fury; finally, thirty-six years after, the cardi
nails began TO arrogate To themselves exclu-
sively the right of eIecting.
AS soon as the holy father expires, the car
dinal Can,ertingo, in "A violet dress, goes to
his door; knocks at il three times, with gold
en- hammer and at each time calls on the
pope 10 loud voice, by his baptsmal, family
and papal names. After short pause, he says
in presence the clerks of the chamber and
the apostolic nOtaries, who take formal note
of the ceremony, he is dead then. The fisher
mans ring is then brought to the same card-
nal, and broken with the same hammer.-
The Fragments belong tn the master of cere-
monies. Finally, he gOesto take possession
OF the aucan IN the name Of the apostolic
cal chamber, accompanied by the clerks of
the chamber, habitrd in black After having
established his authority in the palace, he
sends his guards To seize The gates of the CT
ty, ofthe castle of st. Angelo, and the other
gates and when he has insured the safety of
Rome, he leaves tho Vatican in carriage,
preceded by the captain ofthe pope's guards,
and having beside him the Swiss uho ordi-
riix hnI fl,;.
march begins, the great bell of the capitol is
rung, which, as il only rings On snch Occasions.
announces to the whole city the death of the
sovereign pontti. Meanwhile, the officers of
ST. Peters, with the chaplains of the deceas-
cd pope, take care to have his body elnbalm-
ed. They afterwards dress it up in pon,itioal
robes, the mtre ON its head. and expnse il fui
three days on n state bed. AT The expiration
Of these three days, II is carried In the evening
To ST. Peters the burial place of the popes,
with the ordinary funeral pomp.
The corpse remains exposed for nine days
in that church To the view of the people; it is
afterwards placed in cypress coffin, which
is enclosed 10 one of lead, and finally in third
of pine, and remains deposited in the chapel
until mausoleum can be built for it, or il can
be transported where the pope desired.
In this interval, the cardinals hold many
meetings, in order to regulate the proceedings
of the concaye, and TO elect by ballot the Of
fsers who are TO de the necessary services
of that conclave. The ninth day of the OBJ
sequies. the funeral Grafton is pronounced iu
St. Peters. The nine days of the popes OH
sequies being expired, the cardinals assemble
the next day at the church of St Peters, and
the elder cardinal says the mass of the Holy
Ghost for the election of the new pope. Then
4 prelate pronounces discourse in Latin, ex-
horting the cardinals to choose person wor-
thy OF so eminent place after which the
prIncIpal master of ceremonies takes the papal
cross. He is followed by the musicians, sing
ing Veni Creator, and by the cardinals, two
and two, each according 10 rank, who go per
soDally To the conclave which is prepared for
them in the Vatican.
The cOnc!aye occupies portion of the Va
tIcan, that immense palace, Of which the
name alone inspires respect. Ii begins nj thu
gallery over the porticO of ST.. Peters, and ex-
tends along to the right hand. Through The
whole length Of the first apartment and of the
corridors which traverse IT, there are several
large rooms, separated from each other by
wooden partitions. The spaces between these
partitions are called cells each cell consists Of
different small rooms and cabinets each car
dinal has for himself and his conclavsts one
the chamber which he occupies is only large
"
table.
When the cardinals enter the conclaye, thew
go to the Sixtine chapel The bulls concern.
ing the election of popes are there read, and
The cardinals swear to observe them. After
wards the dean of the sacred college re-
presents TO il the importance of follow
ing the prescriptions Of the bulls. This done
the cardinals who wish 10 dine at their
own palaces, then permitted to leave
the conclave under a promise of return
ing there 10 the evening The master of The
ceremonies then gives them notice that they
must not shut themselves up in the conclavl
unless prepared TO remain there, according 10
the ordinances of the bulls, as long rs il lasts
The hour Of closing the cOnclave being ar
rived, the FIRST master Of the ceremonies rings
a small bell, TO notIfythc ambassadors, princes
preIates, and other distinguished persons who
may be present, 10 retire. Every body hav-
ing withdrawn, the doors and windows are
bull up formaily essential to the validity
of the election, except small aperture fnI
the admission of light. The only communi
cation with the exterior is by means Of boxes
turning on pivot, such as are seen in con
vents. IL a cardinal desire to leave the con
clave, either from indispositiOn, or any other
serious cause, IL is permitted hut he thereby
loses his vote. Those cardinals who have
not gone in have three days after the com
mencement Of the cOnciaye to decide whether
they will join it or not; after which they are
no longer permitted to do So but are cOnsid.
| ersd as being at Rome ncognito.
The next day, the elder cardinal addresses
a discourse TO his colleagues, TO rxhDrt Them
to go seriously TO work for the election Of the
pope. The same day they begin, and the car.
dinas bold their assemblies in the chapel fri
voting, without disseminating, morning and
evening. The assembly is thus convened -
a master Of the ceremonies goes through tbs