The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-24
THE CEREMoNIEs AT ROME.


The stately succession of ceremonies now
taking place at Rome furnishes an impress
sive object lesson of the splendid organiza-
ton of the Catholic Church and of it's pre-
paredness In detail for every possible con-
tingency. If these ceremonies were intro
duced now for the first time some Of them
might strike the modern world as trivial.
but when ii is remembered that they repre-
sent the traditions and observances of
many centuries, the smallest of them be-
comes dignified and impressive. These cere-
monies, which constitute the prescribed OBJ
sequies of a deceased Pope. will occupy
nine days and will then be followed by the
election of a new one. 1t is interesting to
note the machinery, at once simple and
complex, by which this function is safe
guarded from all outside influence and is
made TO represent the unbiased choice of
the learned and pious men who constitute
the Sacred College. Compared with ii all
other machinery and methods for secur-
ing conscientious action and honest results
in elections feeble and ineffective. The
cardinals who are to make the choice are
sworn to observe the established rules of
the ceremony. While the conclave lasts
and until choice is made they are COM
pletely cut off from the outer world and
even the food that is sent in to them is
scrutinized to that no communication
reaches them in that way. If, after three
days, the conclave is not agreed, the sup
ply of food is restricted. The provisions of
the Australian ballot law for securing
secrecy and independence of the ballot are
weak compared with those by which these
results are secured in the conclave Each
cardinal DISCUSSES his handwriting that ii
may rot be recognized when the votes are
counted. Each ballot is sealed and the
seal must have emblem known only
to the one who affixes it. The ballot is
folded in three equal parts. On the first
fold the cardinal writes his own name and
then turns down this part and seals it.
On the second part he writes the name of
his candidate and turns that down and
seals it. He then folds UP the third part
and seals that. The three tellers or count
ers are not appointed, but are chosen by
lot. Only one cardinal at time goes to
the chalice, or ballot box, and he is re-
qured to carry his ballot between his
thumb and forefinger in full view of all the
others. If any cardinal is confined to his
room by sickness a committee drawn by
lot waits on him to receive his ballot. One
of the tellers shakes the ballot box and an.
other draws the ballots out one by one to be
counted. The third teller watches the
other two. The record of the counting is
made by all three of the tellers. These
are only few of the details that go to
make up a method of voting which per-
mits each cardinal TO vote without reveal
ing himself and to recognize his vote after
ward without revealing its personal origin,
and which renders fraud of any kind i'm
possible.
The manner of electing a Pope by ballot
of the individual members of the Sacred
College may have been borrowed from some
ancient government. but 1t comes nearer
representing modern democratic methods
than any of the medieval governments did.
The principle of heredity finds no recogni-
ton whatever nor does that of aristocracy.
In monarchies the crown descends accord
| ing TO blood, but succession 10 the papacy
| is determined by ballot. The heir appar-
| ent of throne may be weakling. a Ounce
or a sct, but the head of the Catholic
| Church is the free choice of its wisest men
and chosen for his pre-eminent fitness.
| Aristocracy finds no more recognition than
| heredity. and the son of a peasant may
be chosen 10 wear the 1sherman's ring.
Kings sometimes abdicate in favor of par
ticular successors, and even Presidents
| have been known TO try to influence the
choice of the one who is to follow them.
The Pope has nothing TO do with the NAM
| ing of his successor, and any attempt to do
SO would undoubtedly be resented by the
Sacred College. which has exercised the