Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-10
How the Head Of the Roman Church
is Formally Chosen.
ONLY CARDINALS ALLOWED TO Vote
Rules That Govern the Proceed
ings of the ConcIave.
ELABORATE CEREMONIES
From the FortrightIy Review.

Since Stephen III, A D. in", lHe popS9
have been invariably chosen from among
the cardinals, except under very peculiar
circumstances. The following popes have
been elected without having previously re-
ceived the purple and were either bishops
or priests at the time they assembled the
chair of Peter: Gregory V, 1896; Sylvester
IL. 500; Clement II, 1916 Damascus H. lofS'
St. Leo 1. 1913; Victor IL, 1888; Nicholas IL,
1O5S; Alexander II, 1851; Calixtus II, 1ll9;
F,ugenius ". has; Urban ", 1861; Blessed
Gregory. 1271: St Celestin V, 1924; Clement
V, 1906; Urban V, 1862; Urban VI, 1873
The three orders of observation-disclosures,
priests and deacons-have been likened to
the three orders of the celestial hierarchy
the Seraphim Cherubim and Thrones, Each
cardinal is granted church IN or about
Rome distinguished either for the relics 1t
contains. or as being erected over the scene
Of some conspicuous martyrdom.
The Sacred College at present, when COM
plete. consists Of seventy members-six car
dinal bishops fifty cardinal priests and
fourteen cardinal deacOns. The newly ere
ated cardinal receives. as sort OF lie eltt'
one of the aforesaid principal roman
churches, whose affairs he Is Obliged 10
keep in repair. and it is also rule that
during his term of office his hat ard coat
of-aFns must be hung up over the princlpal
entrance. The cardinal. in taking posses
sion Of this church, adds its name to his
title.
Election of Cardinals.
The cardinals are S.ected in what is
termed a consistory or meeting of the Sa-
cred College of which there two kinds
private and public. At the secret one none
but the pope and their eminences are pres
ent on the contrary in the public con-
sistory when the cardinals receive their
insignia of Office-thdt is to say, the scarlet
beretta. calOtta. etc.-the foreign ambassa-
doris and minister's the Roman aristocracy
and strangers of distinction are allowed TO
attend the strikingly picturesque ceremony.
The ordinary dress of a cardinal consists
of a long frOck buttoned down the front
with many little red buttons. and a light
cloak. cape and train of vivid scarlet silk.
The majority of writer's are of opinion that
the choice of this color is derived from the
fact that it was worn in classical times by
the Roman senators, of whom the cardinals
are the successors. 1t has, however, mys
teal significance, being the color of blood
Cor martyrdon), and is intended to remind
their emiEenCe5 that they are expected to
die. if necessary, in the defense of the
faith. The first mention of the use of this
color viii be found in Cardinal Ostian's
works. in which he informs us that it was
universally worn by the Sacred College in
the previous year 10 the one in which the
book was written. E.. 1874.
Al present the usual hat worn by a car
dinu is the black three-coruerad beaver
hat common to all priests on the continent,
but having a scarlet ribbon around 1t and
small three-cornered cap. made like that
which every Catholic priest wears when in
church and not officiating at the altar; it
is, however, scarlet instead of black. The
calOtta is merely little scarlet skull cap.
Cardinals Choose the Pope.
Alexander III, in HTS at the council of
the Lateran, definitely settled that car
dinaIs should exclusively vote at papal
election. The number of cardinals. how
ever, at this time had not been determined,
nor was it so for long time afterward
for We find Boniface VIII 0012) elected by
a cCnClavc consisting Of only eighteen car
dinals; BOpiface TX 1850 by thirteen
Gregory XII, at the council of Lyons. in
12I4 ordained that the papal elections
Should absolutely take place in council
cOnclave expressly arranged for the pur-
pose Before this time the Sacred College
had assembled for the papal election some
times in St Peters, at st. John of LateTan
or even at the Minerva During the past
three centuries. and especially the frs half
OF the present. many Dopes have been
elected AZ The Quirinal.
The conclave should by rights assemble
as soon as possible after the pope's burial,
even in the afternoon of the same day, as
has been frequently the case. The first
formally organized COnclave was cOnvoked
at Siterbo. in 1910. and lasted longer than
any other record, and resulted in the
election of Gregory Y. 1t appears that
the cardinals who were in ViterbO at the
time of the death of Clement ~. and who
conclusion as TO who was to succeed him.
After sitting for many months. they were
about to pack up and return TO Rome, when
ST. BOnaventura persuaded the Nilerbers
70 surround the palace so as to prevent
their leaving il, proposal which was hail
ell with glee by the people, who iatirated
to the cardinals that they should remain
shut up where they were until they had &C
cOmp!ished their mission. However, even
this eNpedient did not hasten matters, and
two years elapsed before The Dreiates could
make end Of their session, the remain
ing virtually prisoners all the time.
Supplies of Food and Wine.
The cardinals are allowed to bring with
them supply Of wines, cordia!s and sweet
meas, but as there are three doctors pro-
vidsd and shut up with them. they are rs-
qUested not to introduce any medicines, as
a perfectly weIl-organized pharmacy is at
their service. This regulation was evidently
intended TO prevent the least suspicion OF
foul play. Every morning their eminences
have cup of coffee or of chocolate and a
small loaf OF bread brought into their study
or bed room by servant accompanied by
another attendant, who is expected 10 re-
port 70 the cardinal chamberlain if any
conversation or any accident, such as sick
ness, has occurred.
The cardinal is not expected to speak
with the servants unless obliged to do So
At noon their eminences Breakfast and at
O'Clock they have their supper. These
meals are substantial but frugal, and con-
sIsl 81 soup nsI' meat, poultry and GeS-
srrt, but no sweet dishes are served. on
the day OF entering the conclave the cardi-
nals are permitted To sup together in small
parties in one anOther's rooms for the last
time.
AT midnight the bell rings and such per-
sons as have 10 Business 10 remain in the
conclaVe. and who arr there only as visit
ors OF Sossips. have To take their leave and
depart At D clock in the morning the hell
tolls again and at 3 it rings for the third
and last time, and the gates are finally
closed until the new pope Is elected
GU the occasion of the concIaye which
elevated Piux TX TO the throne a medical
gentleman was belated, and had TO remain
shut up with the rest until the concIave
closed- y chamberlain and three cardinals
next sit each room hall and chanel to
see that no one is left behind or concea ed
who has no business there. On the follow
ing morning the little army of cardinals
ana Sonclayists attend mass and then
matters begin TO fall into the prescribed
routine, and each candidate ia more ar 80