Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-08-27
How Leo XIII's Successor Will Be
Elected.

ElCCIcu.
The election of Pope is the most inn
pressive ceremony in the world. 1t is
performed by the Cardinals that form the
Sacred college.
They come together from all parts of
the earth. In the most elaborate state
they are assigned to suites in the Vat
lean. IN an adjoining audience hall the
solemn conclave is held.
Cardinal Rampolla is believed to stand
the best chance of becoming the next
Pope, because of his prominent position
as Papal Secretary of State, which he has
held for ten years.
His election, however, is not at all GER
tain. Within church circles two other
very strong candidates are recognized.
These are Cardinal Parocchi, Vicar Cen
eral of Rome, and Cardinal Vannutelli.
Cardinal Parocchi is from the north of
Italy. He is notedly a lover of France,
and on this account he has the support of
the French and Russian Governments,
and likewise that of Spain. Cardinal
Vannutelli, who is natiysssdG
ince of Rome, svr;rss
I-rrsry,, WITH the 1Yipie aiifsnce. re mas
therefore the favor of these Powers, and
it is known also that England, Belgium
and a number of minor countries of
Europe would prefer his election.
Now it is traditional fact in Papal
elections that where two candidates are
conspicuous an outsider or dark horse is
usually the winner.
The reason is that rule exists ordaining
that no one can be Pope unless he has
the voices of at least two-thirds plus one
of those who vote. 1t is common for a
minority, as long as it feels secure of a
vote of one-third, to block the election,
in the hope of compelling the majority
to make compromise. The compromise
then works in favor of the outsider.
The Sacred College of electors at its
full complement numbers fifty members.
At present it has slightly over fifty. If
an election were to take place tomorrow
compact body of eighteen Cardinals
could stop any candidature, and the Ital-
ian Cardinals, even aided by the Span
iards, could not elect any one without
gathering some other votes. The great
Catholic powers, such as France, Austria
and Spain, can enter formal veto against
any man Objectionable to them. This
has occurred several times, but on recent
occasions it has been customary for the
veto to enable the excluded candidate to
nominate substitute, and the veto can
not then be repeated.
OF possible dark horses among the Ital-
ian Cardinals there are two, Cardinal Fer
ralta, former Annuncio to Paris, and Car
dinal Gotti. The latter is..the most prob
able man of them all.
Gotti is Carmelite monk. He is thus
Injured to the self-abnegation of cloi.
ster. AT the same time he is deeply
versed in the political and diplomatic
knowledge with which Pope must be
endowed.
Cardinals, even of the Curia in Rome,
have begun to speak of Cardinal Gibbons
as the parsonage who should be selected.
He was educated in Rome and speaks
Italian and French flueutly.
He is imbued with the liberal progress
sive ideas that make the strength of the
great American Republic, and that would
regenerate the church in Italy. If both
men are alive at the time of the coming
conclave it is almost certain that Car
dinal Serafina Vannutelli will cast his
vote for the eminent Archbishop of Bal
timore.