The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-15
A PRINCE OF THE CHURCH.
How Archbishop James Gibbons Is To
Be Elevated to the Cardinalate.
The Ceremonies To Be Observed Here and in
Rome-The Vatican's Commission and
How It Is To be Executed.
Tome Letter in Cincinnati Enquirer.

of his Holiness the Pope to create new cardinal
in the person of the distinguished American pre-
late, his Grace Archbishop Gibbons, of Balti-
more, doubtless your readers will be pleased to
learn what is meant when any one is selected to
be a member of the sacred college, and what
ceremonies will accompany the conferring of the
dignity both here and at Baltimore.
The dignity of the cardinalate is so great here
that men are said to be created cardinals-not
made-for they are regarded as having no exist
ence before by comparison with their present
dignity. In all countries where court etiquette
prevails cardinal ranks above every member of
the nobility and on an equality with the princes
of the royal blood. Indeed, they are the princes
of the royal priesthood of the Catholic Church,
and from their number is selected the one who
They served on Bonded knee, and princes and
mobiles are honored by being allowed to be their
pages. They are addressed as s'Your Eminence."
Most Eminent Prince" 'Most Eminent and
Most Reverend Lord, ;" etc, and when petitions
or addresses arc presented to them the petition
ers usually declare themselves to be Lying at
the foot Of his Eminence's throne" Friend or
stranger, when salutng them must kneel and
kiss their ring. and every head, except that of
an actual ruler, must he uncovered In their
presence, and in saluting even these his Emil
hence never uncoverS.
Their lives and property are protected by the
most tremendous anathemas that even eternal
Rome can utter. Wheresoever they 60 they are
the immediate representatives of the papal uni
versal jurisdiction, and in their presence all
other jurisdiction ceases, go that, should a car
dinal be present, bishop or archbishop, even in
his own diocese. confer no blessing, indul-
gence or jurisdiction. They are members of the
various Roman congregations whose decisions
rule the universal church. They are the Pope's
privy council, without whose advice he never
acts. They are the judges to whose decision the
Pope refers all the most important affairs which
come to Rome. They are the Pope's beloved
sons and venerable brethren" and finally they
are those who elect, and from whose number is
elected he who is called to the highest human
dignity, the universal bishop and monarch, the
Roman Pontiff.
The creation Of the cardinals is the exclusive
right of the reigning Pope In former times
Catholic governments had the right of forward
ing one or two names to Rome for this honor,
but this privilege has been withdrawn, and now
the Pope alone selects the names of those he
deems worthy to fill the position. When the
sacred college is full there are seventy cardi
nails (seven cardinal bishops, forty nine cardinal
priests and fourteen cardinal deacons) But
the policy OF the Holy See never permits the
number to be fully made up, so that should any
emergency arise it is within the Pope's power
to create new cardinals, whose advice and whose
enty are selected from the elite of every nation,
and eminent piety learning and zeal are the
recommendations which lead to the selection.
The Holy See is extremely jealous of dcta-
ton In the matter and it was said here at the
time of your last council of Baltimore that
the elevation of Archbishop Gibbons was by no
means helped by the activity of the American
press on his account. The name selected is not
by any means necessarily that of an archbishop
or blshop, nor even OF priest Any one who
has received the subdeaconate is capable of hold
ing the Office, and the late Cardinal Antonelli
(Secretary of State to Plus TX never was, as q
matter of fact. more than subdeacon. In select
ing those whom it is his pleasure to honor with
this dignity the Holy Father sometimes chooses
secular ecclesiasticS, sometimes the members of
religious orders, sometimes those of noble blood.
at others those of the humblest origin, and
within the sacred college all are equal, taking
precedence only in accordance with the time of
their creation. A cardinal without the special
permission of the Holy See (which is very sell
dom given), is not permitted to be addressed by
any other title than that of his dignity, nor to
wear the insignia Of any other order or decora
ton which he may have received, since on his
elevation to the cardnalate he is regarded as a
new creation from nothing.
From what has been said above it will be seen
to how great a dignity Archbishop Gibbons is
about to be elevated and doubtless your readers
will be interested to hear how it is conferred.
First, then, in secret conclave, or assembly of
the sacred college, the Holy Father will commu-
nicate to the carninals his intention of raising
the Archbishop to be one of their number and
from this time he will be said to be cardinal in
petto i. e., o cardinal whose creation has been
reserved by the Pope within his own breast.
Shortly after this THAT is to say shortly, count
ing as we do here. though probably in your
the Pope will name commission who, in his
name, will go to Baltimore to communicate to
the Archbishop the honor that is to be conferred
upon him, and to give what is known as the ber-
1T - g. IL.
Pope. which is accompanied by the scarlet be-
retta, and which makes the recipient q
cardinal-elect The commission will con-
sist of one of the right reverend
monsgnori, the apostolic prothonotary, and an
officer of the Noble Guard. OF these the first is
an ecclesiastc of the Roman court, preate of
high standing, and of tried fidelity to the Holy
See; generally member OF one of the noble
Roman families. and who. while in the capacity
Of ambassador, is to be received and forwarded
on his journey by all the faithful as they would
receive the Holy Father himself. The second is
one Of the officers of the heroic little band of
Roman mobiles who are the Popes own body
guard, and who, with the Swiss Guard, are now
the whole of the Ponti6cal army. Before leav-
ing Rome the commission will be received in
audience by the Holy Father, charged with the
document which have mentioned above, and
biden to make all speed to take their precious
message to the far west Then, having received
the apostolic benediction, they will forthwith set
out for America, tn document being in the keep
ing of the right reverend monsignor and the
beretta in that of the Noble Guard. Arrived in
America they will doubtless everywhere be re-
ceved as becomes the officers of the Apostolic
See the prelates and Catholic people of the great
Republic of the west doing honor in every way
to the ambassadors of ROME.
The commission will hasten forward to Balti-
more, and there. on the appointed day, the
bishops of the province and many other arch
bishops and bishops of the United States will as.
semble in the cathedral. Solemn pontifca mass
will be sung by one Of the bishops, and Archie
bishop Gibbons will assist at his throne. vested
in the archiepiscopal purple for the last time.
Then, when the mass is over. the commissioners
will deliver their credentials aud their precious
gifts to the hands of some archbishop who shall
have been selected by the Holy See, and the doc
uments will be opened and read.
This document generally, enumerates the
REASONS which have induced the Holy Eather To