, 1880-11-19
The Cardinals College.

A Rome dispatch announces the death
of Cardinal Bartolomeo Pacca, Arch
bishop of Magglordomo. The announc.
mert will put all the prominent ecclesi-
astics not included in the sacred college
in fever of excitement as to their.
chances of receiving the red hat. All
the vacancies in the college, however,
are not filled, nor have they been for
long while, the Papal policy favoring
the existence and continuation of a GER
tain number of unocoupied seats. AL
though the title of Cardinal is now borne
exclusively by the highest dignitaries,
after the Pope in the Roman Church, it
was at first conferred on many of the
inferior priests. Originally a Cardinal
was any clergyman bearing an official
appointment in principal church. But
in course of time a sacerdotal senate was
instituted to advise and assist the Pope
in his ecclesiastical functions, and its
constitution was constantly amended,
until it attained its present form under
Sixtus ", (l585-6) Cardinals, in ad,
dition to the exalted honor of being sole
choosers of the sovereign rontif, have
the position Of secular princes, ranking
with electors, second only to kings,
Their insignia are--besides those worn
by bishops, which all cardinals, even
those not in the holy orders, are author.
lied to use scarlet mantel, q scarlet hat
and gold ring with sapphire set.
They are divided into cardinal bishops,
cardinal priests and cardinal deacons,
and the maximum number Of the three
classes is respectively 9, so and l4-76,
the number fixed by Sixtus ", and still
maintained. When Nicholas III. was
chosen Pope (l277) there were but eight
cardinals; little while before the death
Q26l) OF Alexander Nv. there were
only four, and during the pontifcate of
Plus w., there was "a Most of the
cardinals reside in Rome, and either en-.
Joy ecclesiastic bene6ces or are employed
in some administrative capacity. When
not so employed they receive monthly
allowance equal to 800 from the papal
treasury. Some of them belong to mon,
astic orders and reside in their monas-
teries, even after their elevation to the
college. The jurisdiction of the cardinal
bishops in the place where they are es-
tablished is thoroughly episcopal, though
they are not obliged to reside there.
The jurisdiction of the cardinal priests
and deacons is almost episcopal, but it
extends no further than the church
and sacristy They have there an epis-
ccpal seat under canopy, as bishops
have, and there they solemnly give the
laity their blessing. Every cardinal
whatever his order, issues dispensations,
and they who are priests can give the
tonsure and minor orders The Pope is
the sole creator of cardinals, of whom
it is customary to appoint few on the
recommendation of the Roman Catholic
sovereigns, those being designated as
crown cardinals. The constitution of
Sixtus V. and the Council of Trent
direct chat cardinals shall be selected, so
far as possible, from all nations, but the
direction has never been carried out.
The great bulk of the members of the
college have always been Italians--a
measure deemed advisable, because until
recently the Pope enjoyed temporary
power. There has never been but one
American cardinal, the present incum
bent of the office, Cardinal McCloskey.