The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-11
"RIGHT OF EXCLUSION"
Catholic Powers May Veto the E1ec.
ton of Any Pope.

ROME, July 1O.-Premier Zanerdelf had a
long conference to-day with the minister Of
justice, Signor Coccu-Ortu. under whose
jurisdiction are all religious affairs in Italy,
about the eventual right of veto which the
Italian government might exercise at the
next conclave. Three Catholic powers
Spain, France and Austria-enjoy this priv
ilege, termed the right of exclusion"
which entitled them to veto the election of
a candidate who is not persona grata to
their governments In such case power
which may desire to prevent the election or
q certain candidate deputies cardinal of its
nationality to announce the objection at the
conclave, but the announcement must be
made while the scrutiny is going on, before
the candidate has received the majority OF
votes required to elect, otherwise the pro-
test would be invalid This right has been
regarded as extremely important, especial
ly in the middle ages, when Italy, being
the largest field of action for France, Aus
tria and Spain, the choice of Pontif was
a question of supreme importance, as he
played a leading part in their disputes.
Italy claims the right referred 10 as the
heir of the kingdom of the two Sicilies,
which enjoyed the right; but Italy did not
exercise il in the last concave, and may,
perhaps, find it difficult to do so now, as no
Italian cardinal. even among those who
are most conciliatory, would undertake to
by the church to have usurped the tenn
poral sovereignty of the papacy. Besides,
Italys policy consists in considering the
papacy to be merely a spiritual power,
which, enjoying, under Italian law, complete
liberty and independence, can without po-
litical Intervention exercise its ministry in
Rome. the capital of the kingdom.
Portugal also claims to be entitled to veto
the election of an undesirable cardinal to
the papacy but her right has never been
acknowledged. Austria tried at both the
the election of Plus TX and Leo XIII, but
the two Cardinals, Gayruck and Gangle-
biuer, deputed for the task, both arrived too
late.
The last time the right of exclusion
was successfully employed was in 1887 when
Spain prevented Cardinal Giustenan from
being elected Pope when he had already re-
ceived q out of the 20 votes necessary to
reach the required two-thirds vote neces-
airy for election. Cardinal Giustenan was so
disappointed that he died shortly after the
conclaye.
The Italian government follows the fuc-
tuations Of Pope Leo's condition with deep
interest. Premier Zanardelli is kept con-
stantly advised of every varying stage in
the sickness. Immediately after yesterday S
consulta ton, DIR. Rossoni called on the pre-
mier and made a statement to him regard
ing the condition of the Pope. He again
visited the premier after this mornings con-
ference. In response to questions put to
him, Sig. Zarnadelli has expressed his per-
sonal solicitude for the Pontiff and added:
My duty Is solely TO assure, In the inter-
est not only of Italy, but of all Europe, the
most absolute liberty to the approaching
conclave, and the fullest assurance may be
entertained that this liberty will be given.
The report has reached here from Berlin
that Emperor William has expressed an
intention of attending the Pope's funeral.
AS the French papers have commented on
this news, saying that the Emperors &C
ton would offend the Italians, it may be as
we'll to say that nobody here believes the
report. 1t may be added, further that Italy
does not look on the papacy from this point
of view as the government, as well as the
Italian people, evince their desire to dem
onstrate to the world that under the pres
ent conditions, that is, since 1870. when the
temporal power FELL the Pope and the
Vatican have enjoyed complete liberty in
the exercise of their spiritual offices. For
this reason no opposition has ever been
raised by the Italian government when
foreign rulers have visited Rome, recent
examples being the calls made on Leo by
King Edward and Emperor William.