The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-12-14
WILL SAT0LI,I SUCCEED?!
Ut Is Reasoned That Ha VIII Be
Selected to Follow Pope
Leo. 81.
His STAY III AMERICA FITS HIN
The IDEAS ct the Present Pope Would
Then BE Fully Carried
q $50 Out

PQpe, coupled with the eieEatlOn OF Mgf.
Satolli to the office of Cardinal, give rise
to some interesting speculations. Has
this promotion of Mgr. SatolEi more than
ordinary meaning? The ordinary mean
Ing is plain enough The honor is in
acknowledgment Of important and deli
cate services successfully rendered. But
Is there moro in it? Is the successor
Leo XIII. foreshadowed in it? The line
OF comment ending in this question ena-
braces not only persons but policies, and
what is known as the modern tendency
OF the Church, says the Irish-Americasl.
First OF all comes Pope Leo himself,
wh,sm the Church of the present day con-
siders the greatest and most progressive
man who has worn the Fisherman's Ring
in the last two hundred years. Many
things are quoted in support Of this esSti-
mate, and oil of these have given to the
Church IN this country activity and COM
fort Leo XIII. is called the Democratic
Pope. because OF his expressed sympathy
with free Institutions. His admiration for
America has bean frequently declared,
and he has successfully brought the
Church in France 10 the support Of pep
,Ilar goveTnm emit His ps,licies-though
advanced a. long way by himself-are yet
far from being fixed or complete. 1t is
suggested that he must desire to ses
them carried to their logical conclusion,
and that he must wish his successor, as
far as possible, in new times, to steer the
old ship of Zion by his own charts. So
the question has arisen, Has Leo In this
appointment pointed out his successor to
the next Conclaye?
Mgr. satolli by this appointment be-
comes eligible, to use a political phrase,
to the fapacy. lie is a protege OF Pope
Leo. and has been an earnest instrument
in the Carrying out of his plans. He filled
posts of importance before he came here,
but it is because of his services in this
country and the opportunities he has en-
jcyed of studying really Democratic insti-
tutions, where the people practically rule,
that he is thought 10 stand nearer to Leo
XIII. than ever, and to be his personal
choice for the chair Of Peter after he him.
self shall have vacated it.
The suggestion that Pope Leo's success
sor should be a man schooled in knowl-
edge Of and Influenced by much sympathy
with a Republican form of government is
it ts suggested, by no means new. 1t has
been widely canvassed for some years, and
has more than once led to the discussion
Of the fitness of Cardinal Gibbons for the
Office. In fact, the recent visit Of the emil
nent Baltimore Prelate to Rome occasioned
considerable comment on that line. HIS
scholarship, his high standing with al
classes and creeds ia this country and his
age and experience In church affairs. We're
al, quoted as recommending Cardinal CD
bons strongly for the supreme leadership
In the further carrying forward OF progress
sive church work At the same time, GER
tain obstacles in his path to such pro-
motion were noted even by his warnest
admirers 1t was thought unlikely that
the college Of cardinals would elect a man
from SO great a distance, and necessarily
so much stranger personally to the now
ers at Rome. The italian influenca being
strong i'm all the Vatican councils, and
the majority Of the college of cardinals
being OF that natic nality, the selection OF
"a italian to succeed Leo XIII. seemti
almost certainty.
And therein lies the force, it is urged,
of the present speculation. Mgr. Satolll IS
free from one disability that appears to
remove Cardinal Gibbons from the list OF
eligibles. He is an Italian, has spent much
time in Rome, is III high, favor with the
Pope, and personally Is we'll known to all
of the Pope's household, and the majority
CT the members OF the college OF cardinals.
For the rest, like Cardinal Gibbons he IS
scholar of ripe age and OF large expert
enca. and is understood to be in the fullest
svnlpathy with what is called the ad-
yanced and advancing school Of Catholic
thought. ....., .-.
1t is said that Mgr. Satolli, though no.
presuning upon fortunes future favcrs.
mas been making, since his arrival IN this
country, the most careful study OF lis IN
stitutious and their bearings upon the great
religious questions of the time. He found
here the all-ilnportallt problenl OF church
and state presented in form guarantee
ing absolute independence to each No
other cardinal of Italian nativity has had
this opportunity and therefore it is urged
no other man altogether eligible to the
Papacy would assume the duties OF that
office with so MACH knowledge Of the prob
lens which he as Leos successor, would
be called upon in the early days OF his
Pontifcate to consider. Popular govern
ment. it is noted, Is everywhere strength
enirg and increasing, and hence those
things that lie at the very root OF that
form OF government are the very things
thatftn new PROFESSIONALLY as the pres
ent Pope has set the example--will be
called upon to consider before all others.
The summary of Mgr. Satolli's pontif1-
cal equipment. so to speak, as given by
those who believe that his chances are
excellent for the succession, are:
The high favor in which he stands
with Leo XIII.
. The turning of the Catholic Church,
through Leo's influence, toward popular
government.
The opportunity afforded the newly
made Cardinal to study that form of
government at first hand.
His being raised to the Cardinalate at
this time, when the Pope's health is Wis
IDLY declining.
His sympathy with Leo's policy, and
his capacity to continue it.
: L His skill as diplomat, as shown by
his successful adjustment Of delicate and
diff1cult contentious in the Church in
America.
d" His age, guaranteeing years of vigor-
Gus service.
b His nationality, which gives him
strength over even 50 strong a man as
Cardinal Gibbons.
d ,rhegn are. among the considerations