The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-07
NEXT PAPAL CONCLAVE
THE ELECTION WILL BE GOVERNED
BY NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS,
Which Have Been Prepared and
Adopted with n View to Averting
Italian or Foreign Interference.


only from the alarming dispatches concern
ing the condition of his health. but likewise
from the orders which have been issued to
the various ENJOYS accredited to the Vatican
TO interrupt their vacations and to return
at once TO their posts. In Rome as well as
in all the capitals of continental Europe the
question of the successorshp to the tiara is
being discussed, and the conclave which will
determine this problem forms at the present
moment quite as engrossng subject of del
icate negotiation and intrigue in the capitals
of the old world the future disposition of
the Philippine islands and the partition of
China
The next Papal election bids fair to prove
unlike any of those which have been held
since the reign of Alexander Ill who in the
year l179 first vested the selection of the
Supreme Pontiff exclusively in the College
OF Cardinals, the choice of the occupant of
the chair of st. Peter having until that
time constituted the joint prerogative of
the clergy and the people of Rome There
are. moreover, several other reasons for the
belief that the forthcoming conclave will
prove of exceptional interest. For whereas
on the one hand the Sacred College is re-
solved to resist all outside interference
whether on the part of the Italian govern
ment or any of the foreign powers there is
much to indicate that Germany, Austria
ana france propose to revive claims to the
night of veto formerly possessed by certain
ola world powers, while the Italian govern
ment contemplates not only having a SIM
liar controlling voice in the Papal election,
but is likewise talking openly of assuming
control of the conclaVe as we'll as of the
administration of the affairs of the Papacy
during the interregnum, thus usurping the
| prerogatlves and functions hitherto exer
c1sed by the cardinal grand chamberlain
during the period, extending from mini
mum OF ten days to three months, that has
until now elapsed between the demise of
one Pontiff and the proclamation of his sue
cessor. Indeed, the principal law officers of
the Italian government contend that the
provisional administration of the affairs of
the Holy See during the interregnum be-
longs by right to the Italian crown, not
only as the power intrusted with the pro-
lection of the Papacy and responsible for
it's safety, but likewise as having inherited
from the former temporal government of
tne Fapdcy the iunctlons OF thoSe clVll ON,
Gals of the Holy See who were intruSted
with the organization and guardianship OF
the conclave by medieval Papal bulls. On
these grounds it is asserted that the very
moment the Pope breathes his last the
Italian government is entitled to occupy the
Vatican. to affix its seals to all the doors
longing to the dead Pontiff. and to organize
any measures that it may see fit in order to
assure the security and the liberty of the
cOncave.
1t is with the object of frustrating such
designs as these on the part of 10th the
Italian government and of the foreign pow
ers that the election of the successor of
Leo XIII will be conducted on lines entirely
different from those which have governed
the conclaves held during the last seven
hundred years. The bulls of Gregory X,
Gregory XIV and Urban VIII bearing upon
the forms to be observed in regard to Papal
elections have been to a great extent mod
flied by bull issued a few weeks only be-
fore the death of Plus TX, the object of
which was to shut out al secular influence
though this bull bears the signature Of Plus
TX it is the work of Leo XIII On the lat
ter being appointed to the office of Cardinal
Camerlingo, few months prior to the de-
mise of his predecessor, he was intrusted
| by Pho Mono 20 devise new rules and reg
ulations destined to assure the independence
of the cOnclaVe. These were approved by
Plus TX and issued in the form of a bull
and although nothing is known beyond the
walls of the Sacred College on the subject
yet there IS every reason to believe that
since his advent to the throne Leo XIII has
rendered the regulations contained in the
stringent and elaborate
NEW RULES FOR THE CONCLAVE.
According to these new rules and regula-
tons the cardinals present in Rome at the
time of the demise of the Pontif are to as
semble soon as ever he has breathed his
last in order to determine where the con-
clave is to be held and its date. If there
appears to them to be the least reason to
apprehend interference, or even the exercise
of undue influence either on the part of the
Italian authorities or the foreign powers
they are authorized to proceed at once then
and there to elect a Pope, without waiting
for the arrival of any of the foreign car
dinals from abroad and without waiting
either for the obseques of the dead PontiH
or permitting the customary period Of ten
days to elapse after mis- demise before pro-
ceeding to organize a concave.
A quorum is to be regarded as formed by
onc-half of the number of the living MEM
bers of the Sacred College, plus one
cardinal, and only the old and fundamental
law is retained which determines that a
majority, consisting of the votes of two
necessary to secure the legal election of
Pope. According to the new rules and rcgu-
latons the cardinals are forbidden to put
themselves into any relation or 70 mold any
communication with the Italian government
during the interregnum. If the Italian gov
eminent offers its services or support to
the Sacred College in writing the CARDINAL
Camerlingo is to ask the foreign ENJOYS
accredited to the Holy See to make known
the inability of the Sacred College to have
anything to do with a government not rec
ognized by the deceased Pope. If similar
offers are made by word of mouth the same
answer is to be given by the Cardinal Cam
erngo in the presence of one of mis- col
leagues to the representative of the Italian
government. In the event of the italian
government or authorities Alternating TO
intervene by force and to occupy the Vati-
can, to aftiX their seals or in any way to
assume ontrol Cf he conc ave, the cardinals
are directed to bar the gates and doors
against the government, and # these are
broken down to suspend the deliberations
of the conclave and to transfer its sessions
to another country.
LIFE AND DEATH TO ITALY.
It may be asked by the reader why there
is any more danger of state interference in
connection with the next conclave than
there was twenty years ago. To this it
may be replied that at the time of the death
of Plus TX the Italian government was con-
siderably .perturbed and disorganized owing
to the demise a few weeks previously of
King Victor Emmanuel. Moreover. Italy in
those days stood alone 1t did not form
part of the triple alliance receive its
backing. as well its inspiration. from
Berlin. Finally. the Radical and ant-Cleri-
cal clement was less predominant then than
now, and both crown and state entertained
hopes of a speedy reconciliation with the
papacy. and of repeal by the latter of the
pontifCal prohibition which keeps all the
church, going. order-loving and conservative
element in Italy that is to say. some GO per
cent. of the entire parliamentary electorate.
away from the polls-just that element, in
fact which would form the principal bull
wark of the royal throne against the ever
increasing peril of republicanism and revOlu-
ton were the Vatican TO withdraw its ia
nous me Elettore" decree. promulgated
nearly thirty years ago by Plus TX.
To-day however, the italian government
finds Itself in an entirely different position.
Taking the pretext that the clergy were
largely involved in the insurrectionary
movement against the crown last spring
which resulted. in such sanguinary distur D.
ances il has announced It's resolve to have
q PoDe whose friendship is sufficiently as