The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-27
written for The TImes.)


ROME, January 20, 1aOl.--Of all the mem
bers OF the College of Cardinals, the
name of none is heard SO often as IS
that of Cardinal Mariana Rampolla, the
Papal Secretary of State and the most
intimate friend Of Pope Leo ->lll. Rare
" is any news sent out from the vatican
but that the name of RampoEa IS men
toned in it, and I am told that even IN
America he is better known than any o.
the Cardinals with the exception OF car
dinal Gibbons Cardinal Rampola,s po-
sition as Secretary of State as we'll
as his personal intimacy with the pom
tiff has made it possible for him to
WELD !. great influence, and no living man
has a closer knowledge of hopes ana a. ms,
the sorrows and the labors OF Leo AL.
than he Cardinal Rampolla has been the
Papal Secretary of State for nearly fifteen
years and he was, before assuming MS
present office, Nuncio to Spain, and IN
other positions that gave him great eN-
perience in diplomatic affairs. He is to-
day reputed TO be one of the foremost
diplomats of the world.
Cardinal Rampolla has q. commanding
presence. He is very tall and of magnlh-
cent physique. He is approachable ana
affable and is very popular here lie is 4
Sicilan by birth and has the Ozark COM
plexion of the natives Of that island. tie
is noted in Rome for the devotion winch
he showed to his aged mother whom he
established in a fine villa at Frascati.
inst outside of Rome. in order that she
might be near him Whenever he could
leave his duties in the afternoon he used
to visit iler, and when she died. few
wears ago, his grief was so great as to
excite remark. and indeed some say that
his face to this day shows it's marks
HIS NAME LOOMS UP.
Just at this time, when. the advanced
age of the Pope makes the calling OF a
that is of paramount Importance, because
it is felt that the Pontiffs death can be
delayed only a few months, the person
alty OF Cardinal Rampolla looms into
greater prominence than usual. No man
knows better than he the Pontiff's ideas
and wishes as to the man who shall sue
coed him on the throne of ST. Peter. Fur
thermore, The intimate acquaintance OF
tho Secretary of State with the traditions
and Customs of the Catholic Church
makes him an unquestionabIe authority
on the workings of Conclave. He knows
more than does any one else what m
f1uences will govern the selection OF the
next Pope, and it is more than likely that
before the close of this year the Con-
clave will meet in Rome and choose a
successor to Leo NIII, Cardinal Ram
OOila OPINION
of the Conclaye possesses an interest
here that is eagerly sought.
called on him in his apartments in the
Vatican, and as the fact that the Pope.
has always been an Italion, at least for
the last three centuries, vas upper,nosts IN
my mind the first question I asked the.
Cardinal Secretary was whether he
thought that the next Pone would be
chosen from among the Italian members
of the Sacred College. we'll he an
swered, taking into consideration the
fact that the majority of the Cardinals
in the next Conc!are Will be Italians. I
cannot but think that the next POPE will
be chosen from the italian contingent.
NOT A FOREIGNER
the majority of the ConclaNe cannot
reach an agreement on any ono man, and