Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-27
Election Of a Pope.
Lutheran Obscrycr.1


f1icted with the infirmitics attending
such an advanced age, his demise, ac-
cording to human probabilities, can
not be distant. 1t may, therefore, be
Interesting to know the ceremonies
used when such an event takes place,
and the proceedings observed at tho
election aud emthronization Of new
pope, which are very minutc.y des-
cribcd in the Catholic Ritual. all Of
which we intend to give n resume.
The bishops of Rome, even after
the privilege of primacy had been
conferred upon them in AS by an
edict of the Emperor Valcntinian
ILL.,, were elected by the clergy and
people. But clectioneering, to which
the candidates rcsorted, rendered
necessary the Interference of the tenn
poral power, and an election to be
valid needed the imperial approba-
tion, which was granted by the eXarch
of Ravcnna, and for which a tax was
TO be paid. Notwithstanding tho
bull issued by Stephen Ill, in 769, ac-
cording to which cardinals only
should be elected, some ldymen were
appointed 10 the supreme pomtiticate
in the 10th century, for neither j ohm
XI. (931) nor John MI. (956), who
were scarcely 20 years old when
elected, nor Leo VIII. (963). who
was appointed by the emperor, were
in orders before their election. Nic-
olas H., in the l1th century, and sew
cral of his successors, to secure their
Independence from the emperors,
and to prevent them from eXerting
an undue influence Oh the election,
regulated it by bulls.
When the pope dies, the Grand
Penitentiary and the Cardinal Cham
berlain are the only dignitaries who
remain in office. The latter assumes
the management of the state affairs.
The body of the deceased pOntitf,
Immediately after lie las brcathch his
last, is delivered to the chaplaius OF
Saint Peter, embalmcd within twen-
ty-four hours, and then laid out in
one of the halls of the Vatican, TO
which the people have access. Eli.
closed in triple coffin, il is convey
ed, on the third day, in procession
! to the cathedral, where, after the
r general absoiutions, it is placed IN II
= niche of the chapel of the choir, in
which it remains until its successor
comes TO take its place.
Ten days are generally spent III
. performing the obsequies, i'll making
: the arrangements for the election, ana
g in sclcctlm. the couclavists, i. e. Tho
Il attendants whom cardinals are al
y lowed to take with them i'll the con
C clave.s These preparations bcin!
r made in the vrstry of Saint
:; Peter, and tine cells distributed b!
lot. IL high mass is celebrated i'll til,
= cathedral. After this solcmlitv, tn,
= college repairs in procession to th'
couciavc, /. c., the place where ih'
rt election shall take place, and whicl
i is custumarily tie vatican. The Qnlr
!" vi ina. has. however, sometimes 10 b
u>,.t tor this purpose; and i'll cas-
circumstances do not allow the car
dinais to convene III the Eternal City
thc election may take place i'll an
i. proper place, as i'll 1890, when PIu
is VII. was elected in Venice.
ce Here they live secluded from I'll
outer wor!u, .or later nobody Is a'
mIttcd into the comc.ave bus the fol
- rirn cardinals who arrive later, no
allowed to leave ii. except i'll case ,
t, serious illness. Therefore all Ill
acccsscs save IL single one are wallc
IL up and guarded by soldiers. Wis
tors, however, vita the consent Z
the tembly, are allowed 10 commit
- mic. through Il nratc, and the VIC
h. tlals are handed i'll through VIII
dow.
The principal directions of the bul
regulating the election of the pop
N still in force are the follow ing:
l. The election must c"nlincn'
n within ten days after the holy see III
become vacant, without waiting IL
the arrival of the cardinals abscl
from Rome.
, 3. The privilege of clccting POI
:. being IL personal one, the cardIn;
- cannot confer it TO any other perso
or act ly proxy.
;. An ecclesiastical ccnsure, G
r communications, suspension, or /
4 ter,lici incurred by IL cardinal, do
not debar him from participating
the election.
3. Since Stephen III. (769) cardin:
W only arc eligible (papabiles); VIII.
v however, circumstances require
=, any other person tit for the episC
and pate, may ie elected.
ih2 j. \ cardinal under ccnsurc, {
imiI communications. suspension Or Int
Nr. diet, is thereby not unfit for the :
. Ian nii prruir l,onilticatr.
" III 6. According to an old and oft
repeated principle, 10 pope is allo
cd to iurniu;:lc his successor.
. The election may take place
three different ways:
l. BY boliot (per scrutinium).wl
al is the most usual form. TW.-tiIii
.Uck -, - ,a,,;,I -, -
..u- elrctum. In case no Candidate
,n,n!. ccivc< such majority i'll the ii
len ballot. it is repeated by access Il
ne ScruiiAium ct accessuH). The vo
received in the second ballot are
Gcd TO those received by the can
J. dates insthe first ballot. 1 he ball
use. must be repeated until one oDta
the required minority, but no III
than Two are allowed day, viz:
the morning and afternoon.
Ell. 2. By Inspiration (per inSPirati
-, cm). This :orm of election ta
place when the cardinals, with
accord, and without previously {
hats, ferriuy with one another, elect IL p'
lace, lace, by general reclamation. Adrian
her was SO elected. lie owed it to
Irs- ,iinai Cnj'esanus, who by his
nnI;v 4uence, induced all his colleagues
She vote for MS TREND.
I'd. By compromise (per cOmprO,
StM). This case occurs when
cardinal, charge several of their
',,,i leagues. at least two-who, howe,
ofthe are not allowed 10 vote for lhelusci
'iare- with the election of a new pc
THIS form was used i'll Venice in
White, No bull describes the duration
Iah,is whiis he conclave. Gregory VII.
. inca elected. in 1918, the Yery luy of