The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-05
SELECTING A POPE.
Cardinals Witness Death and
Name Successor in Secret.


Name Successor in Secret.
From the Chicago Chronicle.
Drifting across the ocean from Rome.
come hints and rumors, vague and unau-
thoritative, but none the less disturbing.
that ere long the College of Cardinals will
be called upon to elect d successor to Pope
Leo XIII.
The cardinals were originally the priests
of the Roman Church, and centuries ago.
when the people of Rome elected their
bishop, the cardinals declared their right
to elect the pontiff. Pope Nicholas soon
after his concession in 1858, ratified this
demand Of the cardinals, but declared that
the laity and clergy of the city should
ratify the action of the cardinals in choos-
ing pontiff. This led to such grave scam
dals and charges of bribery and intimida-
ton that Gregory X, in 1872, cut off the
priests and people of Rome from partici-
patton in the election and left it entirely
to the College of Cardinals.
: AS constituted then and now. the col
lege is composed of cardinal bishops, oar-
dinal priests and cardinal deacons The
cardinal bishops are the bishops of Osla,
Porto, Albano, Tuseulum, Sabina and Pal
estrin, the former states Of the church.
The cardinal bishops enjoy certain prerog-
atives not accorded to cardinals of other
rank, while the cardinal deacons have oc-
casionally not even been ecclesiastic at {. d.
but laymen who serve the church better
with the rank of cardinal than in any
other capacity. In the eleventh century
the number of cardinals was twenty-eignt
but it has since been increased. until now
when full, the college has seventy mem
bers. 1t Is, however, never full, there he
ing always hats held in reserve at the
disposal of the pope to be conferred when
demand advisable. At present the college
as to nationality stands as follows Ital-
tan, twenty-nine; French, seven; Spanish,
seven; Austrian, five; Bohemian, two; Por-
tuguese, two; German, two; Belgian, ',ne
Polish. one; Irish, two; Hungarian, four;
English, one; Canadian, one, and enc
American. The preponderance of the Iial-
ian element is thus seen to be very de-
cided, and although the Italians have lot
the requisite two-thirds to elect Pope
they have enough to prevent a combina-
ton of the foreign element against them
and can, if they choose, control the cleo
ticn. 1t has been so for over 800 years,
Adrian vi, in 1922 being the last ponriff
of foreign birth.
The formalities attending the election
are numerous and must be compiled with
to the letter. When the reigning Pope Is
believed to be in dying condition, wit
nesses are assembled TO be present at his
death, several cardinals b6ing among the
number and as soon as the melancholy
event occurs the papal chamberlain takes
charge of the vatican, makes an inventory
of the property in the Pope's private
apartments, views the body, write GER
tihcate of death, which he summons the
witnesses to sign, orders the papal chapel
and st. Peters TO be draped and the bells
to be tolled All the cardinals are imme-
diately notified of the Pope's death and
requested to attend the services at the
vatican chapel. The funeral of Pope
usually lasts nine days, the body, after
being embalmed and robed in pontificai
vestments, lying In state three days In
the private chapel of the Pope, three days
in the Sistine and three in the Cathedral
of st. Peter.
One of the most peculiar things about
the election is the precautionary measures
taken to secure absolute. secrecy in regard
to the ballot until the election is over, and
as it lasts often for several days, the car
dinals and their attendants are obliged TO
live in their apartments in the vatican.
After the funeral the cardinals gather in
the vatican, masses are said, a sermon
relating to their duties Is delivered by one
of their own number or by some distin-
gushed prelate chosen for the occasion,
and the cardinals retire to a private wing
of the vatican to hold the election For
merly none but cardinals were admitted
to this conclave. but of late years the rule
has been greatly relaxed. The cardinals
are mostly old men, some of them very
aged, in most cases unable TO help them
selves to the extent desired, so that within
the wing of the vatican set apart for their
use there are now admitted BARRIERS, wait
ers, Wallets, doctors and other attendants.
all of whom take the same oath as the
cardinals, to divulge nothing of what
passes within the conclave. After all who
should be there have entered the apart
ments, every entrance but one is walled
up. bricklayers with material and tools
being in readiness. One door, however.
small private entrance, is not included.
for it has happened that a cardinal died
during conclave, and some means of ac-
cess 10 the apartments is deemed desir-
able, in view of an extraordinary contin-
gency. The little door Is locked within
and without, and an attendant waits on
each side, no one being allowed to pass in
or out except by special permission from
both the cardinals and the papal chamber
lain.
Formerly all the cardinals lived and slept
in a common dormitory. but now a private
cell is set apart for each. With the plain
est furnishings, these little apartments
more closely resemble a cell of q monk
than habitation fit for prince of the
church. The cells are draped. those for the
cardinals created by the last Pope In red
all others in green, so that the distinction
between red cardinal and green cardi-
nal is marked during the election, If at no
other time.
There is little change in the routine life
Of the cardinals during these DAYS thev
are'confined here waiting the final vote. An
official wakes each cardinal at 6 o'clocl,
every morning, and the college immediate
~ assemblies at mass before temporary
altar. After mass ballot is taken and if