The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-02-20
THE PAPACY.
How the New Pope VIII be Elected
aud Inaugurated.
The Right of Veto Possessed by the
Catholic Powers.
HOW AND WHEN 1T HAS BEEN EXER-
CIsED IN THE PAST.

Some doubt has been raised as to
where the Conclave of Cardinals will
meet. 1t will not necessarily be at
Rome. In 1899, on the death of Pins
VI, Rome was so disturbed that free
dom and independence of action seem
ed improbable, and the Cardinals met
in a Bepedictine Convent at Venice,
under the protection of Austria. They
balloted daily for several months be-
fore decision was reached. Cardinal
Chiaramonti, whom they at length
agreed upon, took the name OF Plus
VII. He died in the Buirinal Palace
in 1923, and the Conclave which elect
ed his successor, Leo XII, was held
there. Gregory XVI succeeded Plus
VIII, who followed Leo XII, and he,
too, was elected in the Quirinal. At
ter his body had laid in state in St.
Peters for nine days it was inferred,
and on the following day the Cardi-
mails, to the number of fifty-four, met
in the Qnirinal, and after one days
balloting Mastai Ferretti was elected.
In 1871 the Italian government took
possession of all the Church property
in Rome, and turned the Quirinal into
q residence for the family of Victor
Emanuel.
If the next Pope be elected in Rome
the conclave will, therefore, be held 10
the Vatican. The ceremonial of the
election 10 very simple. As soon ss
Plus TX expires the Cardinal Gamer
lengo, chief officer of the paper house
hold, the apcstoiic notaries and other
witnesses, will attest the event, and
break the "seal of the fisherman" used
BY the deceased pontiff. Under ordi-
nary circumstances the body should
lie in state nine days, but il is likely
that, 10 view Of surrounding conditions
the conclave will assemble Immediate
ly. The bull regulating the election
of the Pope will be read, and each car
dinal will swear to observe it's terms.
All approaches to the apartment will
then be closed, except one, which can
be opened to admit a tardy Cardinal,
or to permit the retirement of a sick
one. The windows will be walled up,
and the food Of the Conclavs will be
will passed in through small aper-
ture. Balloting will continue until the
majority agree upon one name, and un-
til this is accomplished, no cardinal is
permitted to have any communication,
oral or written, with any person out
aide the conclave. The ballots are de-
posted in chalice, the names being
written, the paper folded, ard as each
cardinal steps forward to deposit his
vote, he will make the following oath :
III call to witness God, who will be my
Judge, that I choose the person to
whom, in the presence of God, Ijndge
should be elected, and that will do
the same 10 acceding"--in accepting
choice oftlie majority should it be an
other person. After the ballots are all
deposited, a teller is appointed to read
them aloud. The same form is con-
tinued until definite result is accom-
plished.
A two thirds vote is required for q
choice, and there are four modes OF
election Scrutiny" access" ICON
promise and ''inspiration." No vot-
ing by proxy is permitted Twice
each as long as the conclave lasts each
cardinal present writes his own name,
and the name of the person for whom
he votes, on slip of paper; then adj
vances to the altar, kneels and repeats
q prayer, and deposits the ballot in a
consecrated chalice - repeating an
other prayer as he leaves the altar
When all have voted short pause in
tervenes, and then the ballots are TAX
en- from the chalice by officers appoint
ed for the purpose. They are counted
aud compared with the number of car
dinals present. If the requisite two
thirds is obtained, the fortunate candi-
date is declared duly elected. If not,
the slips of paper are at once burned,
and the little cloud of smoke escaping
through small fue tells the anxious
crowd waiting outside that no election
has occurred. Then the same process
Is repeated. This is the scrutiny
If votes be added to those already
given to one candidate, 80 az to make
the entire two thirds, it is called sac
cess" If the friends of two closely
matched candidates unite on a third,
1t is called compromise" If by a
sudden movement in the college,
whether impromptu or prearranged, a
name is proposed and carried by accla-
nation it is called "inspiration.'-
Pius TX was elected in this way.
1t is not positively known how or
when the right to exclude candidates
from the Papacy came to be vested in
certain Of the European monarchies,
out the existence of the right has been
formally recognized by the Court of
home In the Crowns of France. Ans