Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-05-11
CARDINAL GIBBONS
Interviewed for the New Mexican
Concerning Various Church Mat
tiers of General Interest.
CATHOLICS IN PHILIPPINES
When Anarchy in the Islands Ceases the
Catholic Interests There Will Be An
nexed to the American Branch
of the Church.

of the Church.
New Mexican's special correspondence.
Washington, May 4.-Cardinal Glib
bons, who had come to Washington
from Baltimore, when informed Of the
of the consistory of cardinals, which
las expected to assemble at Rome in
May, to June, owing to serious differ
ences between France and Italy, said
to your reporter: II had not heard of
the ~postponement of the consistory of
cardinals, which is the title we give it,"
When asked what could probably be
the cause of the reported differences, as
dinal Gibbons said: II am not Informed
as to what the actual differences, if
any exist, between France and Italy,
can be at this time. But it is possible"
continued the cardinal, that France
and Italy may each want to secure the
larger number of new cardinals. Such
a state of facts might cause a postpone
ment of the consistory of cardinals to
a future date"
When asked if he could think of any
other reason for the p~ostponement Car
dinal Gibbons replied: While not fully
informed of the present reason, yet
there might be various reasons that
could cause the "postponement of the
consistory of cardinals. 1t might be
that he person or persons desired for
cardinals by France would not be en-
tirely acceptable to the pope, or it
might be that the person or persons that
the pope had in his mind for the high
position of cardinal would not be alto
gether desirable to France. And the
same state of facts could be possible in
Italy"
Upon inquiry if he could think of any
ment, Cardinal Gibbons answered very
pleasantly: ooh, yes, there might be a
p~ostponement on account of the health
Of the pope, but that can not possibly
NC IN SduoC al LIE bllllC, LII llC POpC
has the most remarkable good health at
this time, particularly when you censid-
er his extreme age; and you must re-
member the pope now is about 80 years
old. That is older than any bishop in
the United States. The bishop of Bur-
lington, VT, is the Oldest bishop in this
country, and I think that he is about
SO. There is one other bishop in this
country that l think is 81. They think
they have a remarkable record, but
they can not show the score that the
pope can
In response to several inquiries as to
the time and manner of appointing
priests, bishops, archbishops and cardi-
nails, and why America, with its large
Catholic population, and considering
their wealth and Importance, should
have only one cardinal, when Italy, with
it's small area Of territory and small
proportion of population, should have so
many more cardinals thar larger ad-
joining countries u than the United
States, with it's vast area and about
one-third the Catholic population of
Italy, the cardinal said:
"A priest is placed over a parish of
about 500 to 1000 Catholics; a bishop to
a number of parishes, according to their
size, wealth or Importance, though there
a not be two bishops in the same
town; an archbishop is placed over a
number of bishops, no special number
required, and a cardinal is appointed by
the pope, as in accordance with his
mind the number and Importance of
the Catholic population, in justice and
right, would require in each state or
country. The maximum number of car
dinals is seventy; there are about fifty
five cardinals now living, leaving about
fifteen vacancies"
In response to the question as to
whether he believed that the next con-
Of cardinals would result in the
pope appointing one or more cardinals
this great and expanding country,
he replied: THAT is something that 1
can not at this time answer. In fact,
that is entirely in the mind Of the pope,
and If he thinks that in our great and
growing country it would be best to
name one or more new cardinals for
America he can do so; but it rests en-
tirely with him. One country has moth
to do with the appointment of car
dinals in another country. AS to Italy
and the neighboring Catholic countries,
the reason that they have so many car
dinals is probably because the cardi-
nails are, as you might say, the cabinet
or advisers Of the pope, and he desires
have a large number Of them COM
p~aratively close, SO that he can more
consult them. AS America
in population, wealth and impor-
tance-and it is growing pretty fast
may have a number of more
cardinals; probably in fifty years from
now we may have as many as Italy"
When asked as to whether he had
taken any steps to have the Philippines
attached to the Catholic church in this
country, the most worthy cardinal
smilingly said: There is so much an
archy prevailing in the Philippines at
The present that nothing looking to that
end a be done now, but just as soon
America establishes law, peace and
order there, then / think that there will
no question but what the Philippines
Of this country. Archbishop Chapelle
Is carefully looking after the spiritual
of Cuba and Puerto Rico. The
new bishop for Puerto Rico is a very
priest, selected by Archbishop