The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-23
HIS LIFE NEARLY ENDED
POPE. LEO's WONDERFUL VITALITY
is WELL NIGH ExHAUsTEP.
Gossip Concerning the Succession
The Dominant Note of Leo's Policy
His Influence in Italy.
Baltimore Herald.

Baltimore Herald.
Despite the authentic statements as to
the continued health of the Pope the ques-
ton of the succession is still agitating
Rome and the Catholic world. A Roman
Catholic doctor of divinity gives the fol-
lowing interesting statement to the Rome
correspondent of the New York Evening
Post:
THE last chapter of the life of Leo XIII
is now near it's closing. The wonderful
vitality that still sustained that spectral
form has no more fuel to consume. The
Pope lives $50 his physicians say because
his still perfect organization has no fiber
left for disease to fasten upon, so at
tenuated has he become. But though the
casket has been worn to a film, the gem
within has rather gained than lost thereby
in power and luster. Like the late Cardi-
nal Manning, the Pope presents a sublime
and awesome spectacle of the supremacy
Of the spirit over the flesh. In both men
and to the same degree in no others that
have known the soul seems to have SUBJ
dued the body into shadowy semblance
of itself While the world anticipates with
regret the near ending of a life so ex-
emplary and so valuable. it seems per-
missfble and not premature to consider
what may follow that event.
LAS to the personality of the immediate
future successor OF Leo Kill, 1t were Idle
to form any conjecture. Forecasts of the
outcome of papal conclaves have at all
times proved fallacious. Seldom has the
tiara lighted on the head of the members
of the Sacred College who were deemed the
httest and worthiest to wear It. Often, on
the contrary, it has sought out some OBJ
scure and lowly brow. We may dismiss,
therefore. all surmises as to the coming
Pope's personality. But the question OF
the policy he is likely or rather, bound. to
pursue, whether he be Italian or not. is
fair and by no means conjectural theme
for discussion. / hold, for my part, that
the lines Of policy laid down so deeply by
the hand OF the present Pope must guide
and control the career of his successor.
The plan and purpose of Leo XIII, has
moved steadily along with the social as
piration and achievement of our times
which are but the presage OF the future.
His great personality must soon pass away,
but the channel he has cut may not be
barred without overflow or diverted with
out disaster.
Here, while I think of it, let me re-
mark that the term policy is not, 1 be-
lieve, acceptable to the Roman Catholic.
and scarce commends itself to any mind
as BETTING the peculiar influence welded
by Pope or the official methods he may
adopt. He has no direct power over the
material world. and no due resources to
sustain policy in the statesman's mean
ing Of the word. He can. and does, COM
mand issues by precept, counsel and con-
Citation; but he cannot compel them. His
objects are spiritual or moral in kind, and
universal, not merely national. in extent.
He is, therefore, not a policy but a
subtle and penetrating potency. However,
we must apply the word policy to the
action Of the Papacy in society, as no bet
ter one has yet been invented. Alliance of
the Popedom with the Caesar of to-day
the imperial people-that is the domf-
Of nd oiu
key to the future performance Of his sue
cessor in office.
Altogether the influence Of Leo XIII
as exercised in Italy has wrought for
good and for peace and enlightenment. He
has fostered education within his sphere,
opened the treasures of the Vatican to
students and scientists of all lands, en-
deared himself to the hearts OF the vast
mass of the people who-even as Italians
are proud of their great countryman. The
government itself knows the value Of the
presence of the Pope in Rome and of his
Italian nationality The Italian govern
ment has openly declared that it will not
allow the presence in Rome of any Pope
except an Italian
..For this reason if there were no other,
it seems almost certain that the next Pope
at least will be Of Italian nationality. But
i'm any case the majority Of the voting
college is Italian, though there are more
foreign (non-Italian) cardinals now, per-
haps, than at any former period. This ma
alist and will meet with no obstacle from
the cardinals abroad. This will be so. at
least, unless some sudden, violent hostility
of the government, some dangerous agita-
ton In Rome threatens the tranquility of
the conclave and should render it neces-
sary for the conclave and the living Pope
to be removed altogether from Italian resi-
dence and italian citizenship. But this
seems an unlikely event. There is no de-
sire or ambition, I believe on the part of
any foreign cardinal to ascend the pontifi-
cal throne in Rome under present condi-
tions. even though the government would
receive him. But Italian or no Italian. the
next Pope will have to follow out the policy
Of the present in more or less vigorous
manner. whatever his character may be.
There can be no return ever to the old
union of church and state. For good or i'll
it is in the peoples hands now to mold the
future of the world. Here the spiritual
power of the Pope is the freest of all to act
and cooperate In fashioning the future