The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-01
MAY BE NEXT POPE.
GOttt's Selection Taken to Indicate
LeO'S Choice,

LeO's Choice.
AS stated in a dispatch from Rome
day or two ago, Cardinal Gotti, Pre-
feet of the Sacred Congregation of
Bishops and Regulars and of Regular
Discipline, has been appointed Project
of the Propaganda, to succeed the late
Cardinal LedochowsN. Cardinal Van
nutelli will replace Cardinal Gotti as
Project of the Sacred Congregation of
Bishops and Regulars and of Regular
Discipline.
Cardinal Agliardi was appointed Pre-
feet of the Economy of the Congrega-
ton Of the Propaganda, in place of
Cardinal Vincent Vannutelli.
The selection of Cardinal Gotti to
succeed the late Cardinal Ledochowski
in the most important post in the gift
of the Pope is universally regarded as
indicating the Pontiffs personal wish
es as to the personality of his success
or, says the Philadelphia Ledger Car
dinal Gotti has long been considered
the most likely of the cardinals for
succession to the Papal Throne.
Cardinal Gotti, the barefooted Car
melite monk, has for several years &C.
cupied a position so conspicuous in
the Sacred College of Cardinals that
he has been frequently mentioned as
possible successor of Pope Leo XIII,
and the democracy of the Catholic
Church would make it seem a natural
transition if the triple tiara were to
pass from the present Pontiff, who
was born Count Pecci, to the son of
an obscure workman. Girolamo Maria
Gotti, whose father was dock labor
er, was born in Genoa, March 20, 1894
He prosecuted his studies in his ma
tive city and in Rome. From the mo-
ment that he received the tonsure he
applied himself with avidity in the
seminary to the study of moral theo-
logy, and he is now deemed one of
the greatest living authorities on prob
abilist theology. AS a Thomistic schol-
ar, Cardinal Gotti also ranks high.
But Cardinal Gotti has never con-
cerned himself with theological theo-
rizing as such. He stands rather as a
student and follower of the moral law
Hence his name is identified with the
religious party in the sacred college as
| opposed to the political school The
| religious party looks mainly to the
moral worth of it's candidate from the
point of view of ascetic piety and prac-
| tice, while the other element takes in
| to account a Popes political ability
| and craftsmanship.
Gotti in his priestly calling attached
| himself to the Carmelite body. This Or
| der of mendicant friars is not only
| very rigid in some of it's branches but
it has peculiar attractions for those of
! devotional tendency. Thus, one branch
| of the order is famed as the barefoot
| brethren. Long before his selection as
Archbishop of Petra, Friar Gotti was
! known as an ascetic of ascetics He
| lived on the coarseSt and simplest fare
| dispensed with shoes, and spent weeks
| at time in the seclusion of the mon
astery. His Carmelite brethren were
the first naturally. to discern the mer-
its of the man, and he was gradually
| promoted in the Order until he was at
| the head of his own priory He
studied, taught, preached and prac-
! ticed for twenty years. however, in
! comparative obscurity.
The Inauguration of Leo's pontifi-
cate brought him within a wider
sphere of action. The new Pope in
| stalled him at the Vatican. where he
| confirmed the favorable impression
created by his past life. Gotti's great
| interest in the devotional and purely
religious aspect of the work of the
church led to his connection with the
! Congregation of Indulgences and Sa-
| cred Relics, but before this the pope
! had determined to send him abroad
on a mission.
The work entrusted to Friar Gotti.
who had by this time been raised to
the episcopacy was in connection with
the distracted state of the Church in
| Brazil. The abdication of Dom Pedro.
the radical legislation with regard to
| religious liberty that ensued and the
undisciplined condition of the native
clergy presented a serious problem to
the Vatican. Archbishop Gotti was
! instructed to proceed to the new re-
! public in the capacity of internuntius
and to restore harmony. The success
attending his efforts resulted in the
creation of the Genoese as a Cardinal
at the Consistory held on Nov. 20.
| 1895
For some years he held the post of
! Project of the Congregation of Indul-
! gences and Sacred Relics
ON account of the great power which
ne Yields, the Project of the Propa-
/ ganda is sometimes referred TO as the
/ Red Pope" red being the color worn
/ by a cardinal; while the General az
/ the Jesuits, whose robes are black Is
4 Tor similar reason called the Black
/ Pope" In contradistinction to the SUI
| preme Pontin. whose robes are white
and who Is named the White Pope