The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-17
SELECTION OF POPE.
Failing Health of Leo NIL. ReviYes au
Interesting Topic.

From the Chicago Chronicle.
Drifting across the ocean from the holy
city come hints and rumors vague and
unauthoritative. but none the less dis
turbing. that ere long the college Of ear
dinals viii be called upon 10 elect suc-
cessor 10 Pope Leo Nil. The health Of
the pontin has for some time been failing
and this fact. combined with his ad-
vanced age. has led to the belief that the
days of the head of the church are mum
bered.
The cardinals were originally the priests
OF the Roman church. ana centuries ago
when the people of Rome elected their
bishop, the cardinals declared their right
to elect the poutff. Pope Nicholas, soon
after his accession in 1893, ratified this
demand of the cardinals. hut declared
that the laity and clergy Of the city
should ratify the action OF the cardinals
in choosing j pontim. This led To such
grave scandals and charges of bribery
and intimidation that Gregory y in l2Ia
cut off the priests and people of Rome
from participation in the election and
left Ii entirely to the college of cardinals.
As constituted then and now. the col
lege is composed of cardinal bishops. car
dinal priests and cardinal deacons The
cardinal bishops are the bishops of Osia
Porto, Albano, Tusculum. Sabina and Pal
estrina. the former states of the church
The cardinal bishops enjoy certain pre-
negatives not accorded TO cardinals of
other rank while the cardinal deacons
have occasionally not even been eccIesi-
astics at all, but laymen who could serve
The church better with the rank of ear
dinal than in any other capacity. I'm the
eleventh century The number Of cardi-
mails was ., but II has since been in
creased, until now. when FULL the coll
iege has 20 members. Ii is however, never
fun. there being always hats held in re-
serve, at the disposal of the pope. to be
conferred when deemed advisable. AT
present the college. as to nationality
stands as follows: Italian %: French. !;
Spanish, .; Austrian. ), Bohemian, p
Portuguese. ,; German ?. Belgian ]:
Polish. ]; Irish, 2; Hungarian 4 English
j. Canadian, ]; American. !. The prepon-
derance Of the Italian element is thus
seen 10 be very decided. and although the
Italians have not the requisite two-thirds
TO elect pope. they have enough 10 pre-
vent a combination of the foreign eie-
ment against them. and can, il they
choose, control the election. IL has been
so for over 30 years, Adrian VI in l5g2
being the last pontin of foreign birth.
The formalities attending the election
are numerous and must be complied with
20 the letter When the reigning pope Is
believed TO be in a dying condition wit
aesses are assembled TO be present al his
death, several cardinals being among the
number. and as soon as the melancholy
event occurs the papal chamberlain takes
charge of the vatican makes an inven-
tory Of the property in the pope's pri-
Sate apartments. views the body writes
y certificate Of death. which he summons
I he witnesses 10 sign. orders the papai
chapel and st. Peters to be draped and
I he bells To De- tolled. Al the. cardinals
are Immediately notified Of the pope's