The Portland daily press., 1896-04-18
CHOOSING A POPE.
How the Successor Of Leo XIII.
VIII Be Elected.
ONE OF THE MOST SOLEMN CERE-
MONIES KNOWN TO MAN.

The Cardinals Are Looked Up Until the
Election Is Overflow the Ending of
the Conclave Is Announced and the
New Pope Notified.
1t has been well said that if ever the
curiosties of history are gathered into
a volume, one of the most curious chap
tiers will be that which tells of the
numerous premature announcements
made during the last Is years of his life
of Pope Plus ks pending dissolution.
An equally curious chapter may be de-
voted to similar reports concerning Leo
XIII. At intervals of a few months for
years past word has come, says the New
Orleans Times Democrat, always "from
the most authentic sources" that he was
dying. But he still lives, and may out
live many Of those prophets of evil. 1t is,
however, certain that he has come to re-
gard his remaining span of life as proba-
bly, very short. He has made his will,
and uttered his final political and eccle-
siastical messages. Finally he has, with
in few weeks, issued instructions, or
commands, which are to govern the car
dipals in their choice of his successor.
He does not, OF course, attempt to indi-
cate upon whom their choice shall fall,
nor to impose upon them or upon the
next pope any particular line of action.
On the contrary, the tenor of his COM
mands is directly opposed to any such
attempt on the part of any one.
"The cardinals" says the pope, "are
not to put forth, nor to accept from
Others, any proposals regarding the politi-
cal conduct of the future pontiff; for the
laws which the next pope should observe
are already set forth in the pontificial
constitution and in papal bulls. 1t
would be grave offense for cardinals to
attempt to alter these precise dispositions
in order that they might secure some
particular election. II any cardinals
shall have given undertakings to follow a
certain line of conduct in order to influ-
enoe the election. they are required on
entering the next conolave to renounce
all such obligations under severest PEN
atty. By introducing extraneous and agi-
tating elements into the election of the
pontiff they would be acting to the detri-
ment Of those rights and duties which
the elected one swears to observe and de-
fend."
The pope recommends that the choice
of his successor be made as promptly as
| possible after his death; for, he says, q
| long protraoted contest might produce
| confusion and impair the authority of
the new pontiff, and that, in these troub-
lous times, would be a sore disaster
Doubtless it would. The political foes of
the papaoy are reckoning upon there be-
ing a crisis in its fortunes at the death
of Leo XIII. They reokoned upon the
same at the death of Plus TX. They
were disappointed then, and doubtless
will be again. Who will be chosen to
succeed Leo XIII. cannot of course be
predicted. But this may confidently be
expected, that he will be chosen prompt
ly, and his election cordially acquiesced
III NY h41y t1Au OAlCh OtCIy II1llS Will SO
on just as before. There will be no
break in the fortunes OF the ancient
church.
There is no more impressive gathering
in the world than papal conolave, and
none perhaps less known to the world
For it Is held in the strictest privacy.
Not only are no reporters or visitors of
any kind admitted, but the cardinals
themselves are close prisoners while it
lasts. Three days are spent in solemn
requiem masses for the dead pope. These
are celebrated by the cardinals in the
each accompanied by servant and a
chaplain, are securely locked up in GER
| tain portion OF the Vatican. They are
not locked in, but the outer gate is ao-
tually walled up with masonry, and q
strict guard is kept outside to prevent any
and the world. And thus they are kept
until they have chosen new pope. II
matters not what may happen. If one OF
the cardinals should die during the con-
clave, no one outside would know it until
after the election. If there should be a
revolution and the king of Italy should
be dethroned and the temporal sovereignty
of the papacy should be restored, no one
of the cardinals would know it until they
were able to announce "Papam-
Habem us'-''we have pope"
The conclaye assemblies in the Sistine
chapel for a preliminary meeting, and
while there the walling in of the sur,
rounding court is effected. Then q solemn
procession is formed, with the hereditary
4 marshal of the church and guardian Of
the conclave at it's head. 1t consists o.
tho guards of the Vatican, who are tt
remain on duty during the conolave, SO