The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-06
CHAPTER ~.
How the Pepe's Successor VIII Re
Chosen.

Few believe that Leo XIIT can survive
much longer. Notwithstanding the tenacits
with whicl he has held TO the life tia.
seems almost 70 have left his thin. worn
frame. Many Specala tons have been made
as 10 the cardinal upon whom will fail
the honor OF succeeding Pope Leo XIII.
Taers are Interesting regulations for the
guidance Of the body by whom the choice
is made. oaen the time arrives for the
pope 20 answer the summons OF death tire
cardinals who are in Rome al the time are
hastily summoned and assembled in the
death chamber. The papal chamberlain
takes charge CO the vatican when The
reignng pope has nreathed his las. Then
follows the lying in state and the impress
size funeral.
The election of successor is conducted
with the utmost secrecy, and. II IL Were
not improper to suggest such a thing. II
might De said that the rules were prompted
by a suspicion that eiecfioneer.ng tricks
were likely 10 be practiced by the relig-
ioGs dlgnitaries who choose one OF their
nrolber - become the head Of the church.
After the funeral. the cardinals, seventy
IN number or as many of them can
reach Rome ia time. assemble in the vat
lean. When they have all entered the
room where the voting Is 10 take place.
every entrance is closed By brickiayers and
carpenters. with the exception of small
door by which food and drink can he
handed in. Outside this door an attendant
Is on duty night and day while the voting
is going on. and one is allowed 10 en-
ter The cardinals sleep in cells provided
in the apartment.
Every morning mass j. said, and after
mass "a ballot is taken. II no agreement
has been reached the cardinals have
breakfast. At o'clock another ballot IS
taken. and il stin they have reached. no
agreement the voting ceases for the day
- aas ~
agreed.
The voting is done by writing the name
of the cardinal voted for upon n slip of pa
per, which is folded 80 that the teller sees
what is written upon il only when the
ballots are taken from the sacred challiee.
In the corner are the voters initials. which
are covered by a fold of the paper SO that
no one knows by whom the vote is cast.
unless there Il any dispute about the re-
suit. III which case the initials decide the
matter. This system of balloting has been
in use in the Roman Catholic church for
centuries and is never departed from.
The time taken up by the ba,loting can be
saved IL the cardinals come 10 an agree
ment at the beginning of their
retirement. They have the choice
of four methods, OF electing pope:
!. by Inspiration: - by compromise: 3, By
scrutiny, or ballot: 4. by access. IL the
cardinals have set their minds upon one of
tnSsE haHiotE az the start iie tiSttioii tiu
take place by a proposition and unanimous
approval. which Is called inspiration. If
they cannot agree they can appoint one of
their number TO name the new pope, WHICH
Is called compromise.
After the election the ballots are burned.
and the first intimation that the voting Is
over to the people who are waiting to know
whether or not the cardinals have agreed
or a choice, is by seeing the smoke caused
by this burning of the ballots ascending
from one particular chimney of the vat
lean.
The announcement is afterwards made
from the balcony which faces the public
square. where the people wait to hear the
name of the new pope.