Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-06-09
CARDINAL GIBBONS,
VIII He be the Successor to Pope LIE,
MIL?

MIL?
New YORK, June Sth.-A Times cshIa
from London says: Who will be the NEXT
Pope? That is the question which all
Europe is now considering. There is really
no sovereign in the world whose acts are
of the international character of the Pope's
and the death of Leo XIII. tomorrow
would create stir which would attract the
attention OF Americans more than apv
other event that has occurred within the
memory OF the present generation. Wtv?
well, II Is more than possible that Eu-
ropean jealousies, no less than the present
situation of the Vatican, would dictate the
election OF the American Cardinal. Arch
bishop Gibbons of Baltimore, to the chair
of st. Peter.
Ihat is the concensus of opinion here
and the reasons advanced are lncidly con-
densed by Roman prelate, whose situa-
llon prevents the publication of his name
which send you in confidence as a susr-
anty OF the authority that brings the
United States into such prominence in old
world affairs. The Pope is not yery strong
Reliable reports state that his frame cannot
much longer endure the strain of age and
care.
Take glance at the situation in Fu-
rope: said our Roman informant, "and
mark II well. Germany is opposed to all
things French, France to all things Ger
man. France has the privilege of protest
ing against certain candidates. The privi-
lege is rarely exercised and the Cardinals
are not bound to obey it, but under such
circumstances, when every force must be
utilized IN the struggle for the restoration
OF temporal power, it will be obeyed.
Germany's candidates being rejected, policy
would compel the Cardinals TO ignore
Frances claims, for Germany cannot be
offended. Cardinal Howard is afflicted
with mental troubles, and the two other
English Cardinals are placed beyond con-
sideration by their age, Newman being sS
and intirm, and Manning 81 The Italian
Cardinals of prominence are too old as
we'll"
BALTIMORE, June Sth.-In Catholic cir
cles here, especially among the clergy, very
little importance is attached to the state
ment that the election of Cardinal Gibbons
as Pope would be hailed with iov bv all
Catholics and other religious denomina-
tions bere. a leading clergyman remarked
to-day There is no likelihood of the
next Pope being an American" =" said he
" II 1t were not for the temporal power, for
which Pope Leo is now struggling, it
would not matter from what section of the
world the head of the Church came, but
circumstances will compel the Cardinals to
select an Italian as the successor of Pope
Leo. am sure that Cardinal Gibbons has
no aspirations in the direction of the Vati-
can. He is naturally retiring and very
modest, and would prefer to spend his days
IN the country he loves so well. He is an
ardent American. | also think it imprac-
teal that he would be selected, for the
reason that this country is still too Young
too deserve such distinction. We have but
one Cardinal, and he was only recently
created a Prince of the Church"
cardinal James Gibbons was born in Balti
more, Nd, July %, 1884, ana is therefore almost
hfty.hve years OF age. AT an early age he was
taken by his parents to their former home in
Ireland, where his education began. Atthe age
of seventeen he returned to his native city, and
after brief experience as a clerk entered St.
Charles College, Maryland. In September, 1857,
he was transferred to St. Mary's seminary Bal
timore, and on the 3Qth of June, 1861 was or
dained priest in st. Mary's chapel. His first
mission was that of assistant priest at St. Pat
ricks Church, Baltimore but IN the course OF
few months he was made pastor of ST. Bridgets
Church, at Canton, an eastern suburb OF the
city. While he was performing the duties of
parish priest in that obscure place, Archbishop
Spaldlng transferred him to the Cathedral
made him his private secretary and appointed
him TO the important Office of Chancellor of the
Archdiocese. In 1866 he was made Assistant
Chancellor of the American Roman Catholic
OF the United States. In 1865 he was made Vicar
Apostolic of North Carolina, with the rank and
title OF Bishop being consecrated in the Cathe-
dral of Baltimore. In 1872 he was trans lated to
the vacant see of Richmond. Va In 1877 Dr.
Gibbons was appointed Coadjutor. with the
right OF succession to the see of Baltimore, and
on the death of Archbishop Bailey, the
same year. he succeeded to the see, and thus at
the early age of 4S attained to the highest eccle-
siastical dignity of his church in the United
states, for Baltimore, being the Oldest is there
Ann H.,
favorite with Leo XIII., who promoted him to
the position of Cardinal. Upon that occasion
the Pope said: The fourishing state of Catho-
llcity in the United States. which develops more
and more, and the condition and form accord
ing to which the ecclesiastical canons of that
country are formulated, advice us, or rather de-
mand that some of their prelates be received
into the sacred college" Cardinal Gibbons has
endeared himself to all, Protestants as well as
Catholics. the poor as well as the rich, by his
simple and unostentatious life. He visited
Rome in 1887 He has published THE Faith
of Our Fathers" which has been translated
into many modern langusges.-EDs