The sun., 1896-08-02
COST OF 4 CARDINALS HAT.
Many and Varied Foes Which tho New
Dignitary Has TO PAY nt Rome.


DiEnitnry Has to Pay mt Rome.
A Roman correspondent Of l. Independence
Beige gives some curious figures about the cost
Of becoming Cardinal. Each consstory held
By the Pope brings golden shower TO the peo-
pie of Rome, he says. One does not become a
Cardinal without disbursing q sum ranging
between forty and sixty thousand francs. while
newly appointed Bishops are required TO pay
the cost OF bulls annata and feeE. the amount
of which varies according to the Importance Of
the see. AS regards French Bishops, the Con-
cordat made at the beginning Of the century
fixes the amount at 1000 francs. This money
was formerly paid by the French Government
but since the establishment of the Republic 1t
must be furnished by the appointee. 1t WILL
therefore. be seen that, IL the Popo preconizes
forty or fifty Bishops at a consistory. the golden
rain Is Of Importance; but II is not so heavy as
in the case OF Cardinals
On the day that Cardinal is created in con-
sistory noble guard must start at once on the
special mission of carrying to the new dig
nitary the red cap the first sign Of the Car
dipalate. Within a day or two later n prelnte
is sent with the beretta. The travelling ex-
penses Of both the noble guard and the prelate
are paid by the Vatican, but the new Cardinal
Is required by custom to make present to
each. In France. where Cardinals aim to show a
princey spirit the present is 5000 francs for the
noble guard and 10000 francs for the ablegate;
but in Germany and Austria they arc more
parsmonous and present only 5000 francs to
the ablegate and 5000 francs to the noble
guard. AS, in addition to these fees. both
ENJOYS are apt TO receive presents and, perhaps
decoration from the head of the Government.
the missions are eagerly sought at Rome.
The miscellaneous fees which have to be dis
bursed numerous. The new Cardinal has to
pay fees at every step from the moment OF his
creation TO the occasion of his receiving the red
hat In public consstory. These fees constitute
very serious tax upon the new Cardinal. not
withstanding the efforts OF successive Popes TO
regulate and reform the matter. A list Of fees
paid by newly created Cardinal in 1912, under
Pope Gregory %Vl, shows the expenditure of
1,3i2 Roman crowns on the occasion of the Gre
alton and OF l.490 Roman crowns on the oc-
casi9n Of the reception OF the red hat while the
casons was more than $4,000 francs. The
new Cardinal pays 80 crowns TO the singers OF
the sistine Chapel. but In return they are
the Propaganda, which furnishes the Cardinals
ring. worth about 100 francs, no pays 32lO
francs; but this payment obtains for him tho
right TO dispose by testament of his property.
which otherwise would go TO the Church upon
officials. ranging from cham oerlains down TO
swsepers, cooks, and soldiers OF the swiss guard.
When the new Cardinal takes possession OF
his titular church at Rome, custom requires
that after the ceremony all the persons invited
TO IL snail pass into room near the sacrlsty,
where served refreshments. consisting Of
or ices. wi mes. cakes and bonbons some OF the
Inhabitants OF Rome make u specially OF oh
tanning Invitations OF this kind and never miss
the refreshments that follow the ceremony.
This custom Ia u source of annoyance as well ns
OF expense, because as rule three quarters of
the guests are strangers to the host and intent
only upon getting as much of the refreshments
as possible. Consequently the German and
Austrian Cardinals have re bel led against 10 and
substituted the plan OF dividing among the poor
OF the parish the amount that would be spent
upon refreshments. 1t Ia believed that this plan
Will eventually be followed by the Cardinals
OF other nations.
The question OF clothes is also n very serious
one for the new Cardinal, as the charges of
Roman talors who are skilled in the delicate
distinctions involved in the dress OF u Cardinal
are high. and as Furthermore many clothes are
required. The costume of n Cardinal is gov
which prescribes, ,dayby day throughout the year.
whether he shall wear red or violet. or whether
he may go In street dress or In costume
suited to the conditions OF time, place. and
functions.
II the new Cardinal is without fortune to de-
fray the cost OF his elevation, and II he is to
reside MT Rome. tho Vatican Is ready to make
him a loan. to be repaid out OF his allowances.
With a regular allowance OF 1000 CROWDS and
otner sources OF revenue, the income of q
Cardinal averages about -, 900 francs year, an
amount which hardly sufllces 10 maintain the
state required OF the princes 0f the Church. 1t
Is not surprising, therefore. that Cardinals oc-
casionally die in debt. IL is admitted that re-
form Is needed IN these matters, and Leo SllI.
has sought tho remedy: but II Is not easy to
apply IL. for the Pope finds himself in the pres
ence OF u coalition Of varied interests, where
none Is willing to give way. each fearing that
beginning once made, the reformation might
extend too far.