The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-13
COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
SUPREME LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Its Members Now Discussing the EIec-
ton Of n Successor to Pope Leo
Impressive Ceremonies.
Donald C. Fitzmaurice, in St. Louis Re-

| AdviceS from Rome state that the success
| sion to the present Pope is under discussion
/ among members of the College of Cardinals.
| The statement is one of which 1t may be
| easily believed that it expresses a fact with
out any authority for such an expression
and without any official assurance that the
| statement is authentic. In all the world
| there is not closer corporation, more
| dignified and self-contained body, or one
| out Of which official secrets might be less
expected to come, than the supreme legis-
| lative council Of the Catholic Church.
For more than 800 years the election of a
pope has rested solely with the College OF
| Cardinals. Up to 1859, when Pope Nicholas
| III conferred that power and responsibility
| upon them, it had been shared with the
| clergy of the church everywhere and with
| the people of Rome. Until about the begin
| ming of the eleventh century the cardinals
| had been numerous, and, because of their
numbers, incapable of any. great or con-
centrated authority. The Pope, being the
| sovereign bishop over the whole Catholic
| Church, and having, such, many duties
| to fulfill inconsistent with those of a partic-
T ular diocese had, from the very earliest
times number of bishops priests and dea-
cons whom he appointed his Wears and
coadjutors for the management of the Do
cese of Rome. The bishops exercised the
episcopal functions in the Pope's stead, each
having a peculiar church within his diocese.
The priests were titular parsons of the
churches in the city of Rome and had the
care of souls. The deacons had charge of
some churches and chapels of DEVOTION
which they held as deaconries. with the ad-
ditional duty of assisting the pope when he
officiated in public, which he not infrequent-
ly did In the earlier days of the church
These three classes of ecclesiastics were
called cardinati or cardinaleS to denote that
they were the first or chief over the rest,
and that all the affairs OF the diocese OF
Rome were under their direction. AT a sub
sequent period, the priests and deacons or
other cities of importance assumed the title
of cardinal, to distinguish them from other
priests and deacons over whom they claimed
supremacy. but the Pope afterward or
dained that none but those whom they had
chosen should be honored with that title.
Among those whom the Popes thus appoint
ed were the seven bishops and suburbicarii,
who took their titles from places in the
neighborhood of Rome. These cardinals
were called hebdomadaril, because they at
tended the Pope each for week in his
turn. They took part with the Roman clergy
In the election of the Pope, who was gen.
orally chosen from their number. About the
beginning of the tenth century the Pope,
having formed regular court, began 10
beStow the rank of cardinal priest or cardl-
or even of the laity. whom they chose to
select, and to each, whether Roman or for
eign, they gave the title of some particular
church in Rome, but without attaching to
il any obligatory service. Thus, the cardi-
nails became a separate body, elected for
life, and the officiating priests of the Ro-
man parishes were gradually deprived OF the
title In 1869 Nicholas limited the right of
election 70 the popedom to the cardinals
thus appointed, leaving to the rest or the
clergy and the people of Rome merely the
right of approving of the election of a new
Pope, and to the Emperor that or confirm
ing it, Even these prerogatiyes, in the
course of time, were withdrawn
POPES JEALOUS OF THEIR RIGHTS.
The supreme power of choosing a Pope.
lodged in the College of the Cardinals. has
not gone uncontested. 1t has been con-
tended that since the power of choosing his
successor lay in the constitution of body
which he might control through his power
of appointment an ambitious Pontin could
easily perpetuate his policy through the
control of the selection of the man to fol-
low him. Upon this danger, more imagi-
nary than real in the light of the church's
history a demand was often made that the
should have voice in the selection of car
dinalS. The POpes, however. have always
been jealous of and vigorous in the asser-
ton of their prerogative in the constitution
of the Sacred College. In 1867 Pope Plus
forbade any clergyman not appointed by
the Pope to assume the office of cardinal.
Sixtus V, in 1856, fixed their number at sew
enty. On this footing they have since re-
manned, though the number has been seldom
complete, the Pope generally having some
vacancies for extraordinary cases The
number has been frequently greatly under
seventy. But sometimes, before Slxtus V,
the number was exceeded, as In the time
Rome and either enjoy ecclesiastical bene-
fits or are employed in the administration.
When not so employed cardinal receives
an allowance of 500 monthly from the
papal treasury. Some cardinals belong to
monastic orders and reside in their con-
vents even after the election. The Jurisdic-
where they are established is truly episco-
pal but they are not compelled TO live there.
That Of the cardinal priests and deacons is
than the church and sacristy. They have
there an episcopal seat, like a bishops seat,
under a canopy, and there they give the
people their blessing as solemnly as any
bishop could do it.
A number of symbolical ceremonies ac-
company the investiture of cardinal: If
the prelate upon whom the title OF Prince
of the Church is conferred Is at Rome at
the time of his appointment, or at any time
during s Sa r regn OF the
Vatican, and there the red hat is placed
upon his head by the Pope's own hands.
AS soon as cardinal is appointed, II he is
not in Rome, or upon his way there, red
cap is sent him by the Popes order. This
will remain his insignia of office unless he
appears at Rome TO receive the nat In per-
son, as the red hat is never sent TO any but
royal personages, of whom there have been
but few in the Sacred College. Many of the
cardinals now living have never worn the
red hat Cardinal Gibbons was not invested
with it for some time after his election: The
red cap signifies the same thing, which is
that the wearer should be ready at all times
to shed his blood for his church. A meet
ing of the cardinals for the consideration of
church affairs is called a consistorium.
There are public consstores which are held
on great occasions, and which correspond
TO the levees of other sovereigns, and pri-
yate and secret consstories which are the
privy councils of the Pope. But the great
est meeting possible TO the College of Car
dinals Is one for the election Of a Pope. |
This is called a conclave.
NO VOTING BY PROXY.
In a conclave there can be no voting by |
proxy. The cardinals must be present and |
voting in person. The ceremony of cleo |
ton is one of the most impressive imagin- |
able. Previous TO the balloting the cardi- |
mails are locked up together all commune |
cation with the outside world being inter- |
rupted until an election shall have been |
made. At first glance this is so strongly |
suggestive of the ordinary petit jury that |
the Anglo-Saxon, with whom familiarity |
has brought a certain degree of contempt |
for juries, is not impressed as ne should be. |
The occasion is one of the utmost Soiem- |
nifty. The whole world waits for the YER |
diet with a degree OF interest commensu- |
rate with the Importance OF the occasion. |
In Rome the interest is pathetic in the |
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