Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-07-24
AMERICAS STATUS
IN THE C0NCLAvE.
Cardinal Gibbons a Strong Fac
tor, Says an Authority.
STANDS WELL IN SACRED COLLEGE

ate's Innuence VIII he Great and
May Result In an Increased Appre-
ciation of American Cntholicity.
For First Time q Cardinal From
The New York Herald's correspond
ent at Rome recently had an interview
with prominent church dignitary
apropos Of the coming conclave and
the interests of American Catholics.
He said:
"The fact that Cardinal Gibbons will
participate in the next conclave is very
important, as II is the first time that an
American cardinal will take part In the
election Of pope.
Cardinal McCloskey on the last oc-
casion arrived too late to take part in
the conclave He heard Of the election
OF Leo XIII. on his arrival at Queens
town.
IF 1t had not been that number of
cardinals favorable to him have died
lately Cardinal Gibbons would have
had very good chance Of being elect
ed pope. The late Cardinal Siciliano de
Rende, who was formerly papal nuncio
at Paris, would have done all he could
to have had him elected.
Cardinal Gibbons, however, will
have a great influence in the next con-
clave. His eminence has very great au-
thority with all the members of the
sacred college and will impress upon
that assembly the power which he pos
sesses as the representative Of the
United States.
He will prove to them that the Unit
ed States has right to be no longer
considered as simple colony with a
single cardinal 1t has a right to have
proportionately as many cardinals as
Spain. II this right were admitted
there would be twelve American cardi-
nails.
The conclave, in view of the au-
thority which Cardinal Gibbons will
exercise, will probably pave the way
United States In the sacred college,
which will bear its fruits in the next
conclave. But even now Catholics Of
the republican United States will not
permit that monarchical nation
should intervene In the coming con-
clave with its veto and thus affirm its
historical right to have at the Vatican
an ally of European monarchies.
For the moment, while awaiting the
Forthcoming transformation of the sa-
cred college in their favor the Cath
olics Of the United States demand a
new pope with modern ideas, ideas
which will lead him to approve the ac-
ton of American Catholicism, a pope
who will maintain most friendly rela-
tions with the president Of the United
States, as Leo XIII. showed his great
admiration and sympathy for the per-
sonal qualities Of Mr.. Roosevelt.
LEO XIII. did much for the Catho-
lies Of the United States. He created
Catholic university In Washington
and instituted an apostolic delegation
by which he put an end to conflicts be-
tween Catholics of the United States.
But one of his most important acts was
making Mgr Gibbons cardinal.
Cardinal Gibbons enjoys the respect
Of every one In the United States. Mr..
Roosevelt gave the measure of his emf
nence's great personal authority by
giving him first place after himself at
the ceremony Of laying the foundation
stone Of the st. Louis exhibition, and
this in spite Of the presence Of leading
personages Of the United States.
"If Leo XIII. did so much for the
Catholics Of the United States we can
see how great are the duties of his sue
cessor vis-a-vis the American republic.
Catholics cannot accept pope with re-
dictionary and antiliberal ideas"
The prelate concluded by saying:
"As have said, American ideas will
play leading part from the very be-
ginning Of the coming conclave. You
may be sure that these ideas will have
a most powerful influence on the fu-
ture destinies of the Church Of Rome"