The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-07-22
The Method Of Electing Pope.

The Method Of Electing Pope.
Register Leader: Cardinal Oreglia,
camerlingo or papal chamberlain by
virtue of his Office acting pope during
the interregnum between the death
OF a pope and the election of his sue
cessor, has created great scandal in
Rome by ostentat:ously, while the
breath still fingers in the frail body
OF Leo, setting abou; preparing for
the anticipated conclave. 1t is not
considered good form to direct atten
tion so publicly to the fact that the
ponticfical shoes are likely soon to be
vacant, and the camerlingo is being
much criticized for what is deemed
his indecent haste. 1t would hardly
be comforting to the dying pope if he
could hear the hammers at work on
the booths or cells which are to con-
fine the members of the sacred cleo
toral college when they are filling his
place.
The pope, who is officially simply
the bishop OF Rene, was originally
selected by the entire body of the
people constituting the church at
Rome. Gradually, largely through the
lawless turbulence of the laity the
clergy was allowed to seize the exclu-
sive power of election. The next step
was to give the privilege of vote
only to cardinals. But in medieval
days much scandal attached to the
way the cardinals exercised their high
privilege, and the council of Lyons, in
1874, adopted, as to the method of
election, rules and regulations design
ed to prevent simony, outside inter
ference and other ABUSES. The system
then established is substantially now
in existence.
The first nine days after the death
of pope are occupied with Devotion
al exercises for the eternal repcse of
the, soul of the deceased pontiff. On
the ninth day occur his obsequies, and
on the tenth the cardinals assemble
: in the famous Sistine chapel. After
the celebration of mass a committe
Of the cardinals gives audience to the
foreign ENJOYS. After this ceremony
the conclave proper begins by a double
locking of the doors communicating
with the outside world, doors which
are to be kept closed until an election
is accomplished. The cardinals retire
each to small wooden cell and are
compelled to remain therein, except
twice day when the sacred college
meets to ballot. An election can be
effected in two ways-either by 'accla
nation or alteration, or by balloting.
The latter method is almost always
used, the first being available only
when some person Is considered by all
pre-eminently fit. Food is passed to
the imprisoned cardinals through q
easement, and the rules require that
it be small in quantity and limited in
variety. When the college comes to-
gether at 6 a. M, each cardinal affixes
his Latimotto to ballot, writes the
name of his favorite. and folds aud
seal: the ballot so that, while the
candidates name may be read, his
own Identification mark is concealed.
To elect, two-thirds vote plus one is
necessary, the successful candidates
own vote being subtracted. If there
is no choice, the cardinals retire again
to their cells until 2 p N. They then
assemble, and this time the name of
the candidate who received the larg
est vote at the morning balloting is
submitted, and the cardinals vote yes
or no on whether or not they accede
to his election. Again two thirds
vote plus one is requisite. After each
voting the ballots are collected to-
gether, are burned in brazier with
damp straw, the dense smoke of which
issues from particular chimney, and
proclaims to the outside world that no
election has occurred. The second
day there is the same procedure as on
the hrst, and the process continues
until some one is elected.
/" AS soon as two-thirds vote is OBJ
tanned, the fact is announced. The
elect, if he accepts, Immediately
chooses the name by which he is to be
known, and receives the homage of all
present. He is next clad in the vest
ments and insignia of the papal Office
and receives homage a second time.
Thereupon the first in the order of
cardinal deacons goes to balcony
and proclaims the name of the new
pope. The final ballots are not de-
stroyed, but opened and their ident-
!. ifcation marks scanned 1t is thus
lnown how each cardinal voted on the
%lecisive ballot. In the old days, when
auch depended on the favor of the