The sun., 1891-12-10
Who VIII Be the Next Pope?

The alarming rumors which have Of late
been circulated regarding the health OF LEO
XIII. have naturally caused discussion re-
| garding the choice OF his successor. Will
the next Pope be an Italian and. II SO,
which of the Italian Cardinals now seems
most likely to command the votes OF the
Conclavep The more carefully these ques-
tiOns are considered. the more anomalous
appears the present situation OF the Papacy.
1t Is generally admitted that, although
one-half Of the sixty Cardinals are foreign
| ers. the next Pope will be an Italian. pro-
vided the Conclave is held in Rome. If LEO
XIII. should feel constrained to leave the
Vatican. the Sacred College would Of course
accompany him, and in that case the cleo
| tion OF tho next occupant OF PETERS chair
would take place outside Of Italy. Either
| Of two events may compel the Pope's de-
parture. Signor CR1sP1 said the other day
in tho Chamber Of Deputies that circum-
stances might impose some notifications
Of the law Of Papal guarantees. Inas-
much as the stipend offered by that law has
never been accepted by his Holiness. the
yelled threat Of the ex-Minister can
only mean that the autonomy and
security promised to the tenant of
the Vatican may be to some extent
impaired. But less independence and safe
ty than the Pope now has would be deemed
| unbearable. and an avowed intention on the
part Of the Italian Government to diminish
his safeguards would constrain him to
seek an asylum In some foreign country.
1t is true that the Prime Minister, MARQUIS
DI RUDINI. disclaimed any such purpose,
but 1t Is quite on tho cards that he
may be displaced by Signor CRIsPI. whose
former adherents constitute large ma
jority of the existing Chamber. Then,
again. 1t is possible that during the life
time OF the present Pontiif the long ex-
pected war may break out between the
Triple Alliance on the one hand and the
Franco Russian coalition on the other. In
such contingency 1t is believed that there
would bo riotous demonstrations of tho
Roman populace against the Vatican. and
that King HUMBERT's Ministers would take
only perfunctory and Intellectual measures
to restrain them. 1t is. therefore. thought
highly probable that the first trustworthy
indication Of impending war would cause
LEO XIII. to leave Rome
Suppose, however that tho next Conclave
should be held outside OF Italy. does it fol-
eigner? Such an outcome Of its delibera-
tiOns seems impossible when We call to
mind the Emergencies In interest and SYM
pathy among the foreign Cardinals. or
the thirty foreign members Of the Sacred
College France has ten, but not one Of these
could gain the support Of his German,
Austrian. and Hungarian colleagues. The
election OF Cardinal backed by the Triple
Alliance would DO equally impracticable.
That the foreign members would unite
upon Cardinal GIBBONS is. We fear. out OF
the question. for this reason. II for no other,
that Pope must needs be familiar with one
OF the two languages. italian and French,
spoken at the Papa court. Cardl-
nal MANNING would be unacceptable to
the French members OF the Conclave on &C.
count OF England's obvious leaning toward
the three central powers. or the Spanish
Cardinals not ono has attained sufficient
eminence. IN the eyes OF Catholic Christen-
dom. to justify his elevation to the Papal
chair. Our conclusion Is. then. that wher-
ever the next Oonclave may be held. the
successorof LEO XIII. will be native of the
Italian peninsula. 1t Is not to be inferred
that such selection will In any way sub
serve the interests OF King HUMBERT's Gov
ernment Alone OF the professedly Catho-
lie powers, Italy is entirely without iu-
hGonce in the Saered College. OF the sixty
Cardinals there 10 not ono who IL even sus-
pected OF acquiescence In the present POSI-
ton OF tho ystcan. 1t is true that In the