St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-07-29
The Election of a Pope.

The conclave of cardinals meets August
1 to elect successor to Pope Leo Kill
and the most notable contribution upon
this subject has been a magazine article
by the distinguished novelist, F. Marion
Crawford. As Mr.. Crawford is Catho.
lie and close student of Italian affairs
his opinions on the subject are naturally
given great weight at this time. he
thinks Cardinal Gotti is the best quail
fed for the place, though he frankly adj
mits man may be chosen for this high
office who has not yet been mentioned.
Among other things Mr.. Crawford says:
Some people can see no safety for the
church except in skilful policy, and they
accordingly desire a political pope, a
statesman at peace with all the states
and their rulers, unfolding their author
ity, and himself upheld by them. Cardi-
nal Oreglia will never be a candidate Tor
the papacy, nor will his influence in a
conclave be great.
Cardinal Serafno Vannutelli ranks as
second in seniority in the Sacred College.
He is grand penitentiary, Bishop of
Porto, and successor in Office to the late
Cardinal Parrichi. He has great inhu-
ence in the government OF the church. He
is what the Italians would call "popable"
"a possible pope, and certainly one who
would come under the designation Of
political. His youth will probably ex.
clude him from candidacy, though his in.
fuence will be profoundly felt.
Cardinal Mocenni and Cardinal Agli.
ardi are both numbered among the popa-
BILE. If, as quite common, the next ponti-
tcate inclines to take the side of the PEG.
pie, Cardinal Agliardi will play a most
important part both in the conclave and
afterward, but do not think he himself
can be a candidate. Cardinal Vincenzo
Vannutelli, the brother of Cardinal Sera-
hno, will never be pope, but it is not i'm.
probable that in the next conclave he
may obtain many votes for his elder
brother. One cannot hel p wishing that
Cardinal Capecelatro were 10 years
younger, for there is no man in the Sacred
College more deserving, and few of
greater ability than he.
Cardinal Rampolla has been before Eu-
rope and the world for many years, and
if there are some that hope that he may
succeed Leo, there are far more who
would look upon his elevation as a dis
aster. His policy aims at preserving the
peace and friendship with foreign states
at any price, while urging an implacable
warfare against official Italy. Is Car
dinal Rampolla the future Pope? Many
people think so, relying upon the i'm
mense influence he has gained during the
latter years of the present ponti6cate.
For my own part l do not think his
chances are so great as might be sup
posed. l believe that different political
tendency is expected from the next pope,
and that the great power so long welded
by Cardinal Rampolla will in the end do
him more harm than good in the opinion
of the conclave.
If the choice is to fall on bishop rather
than a member of the curia, Cardinal
Svmpa may be chosen. Few combine
such political ability with such theologi.
cal training.
The Catholic Church could scarcely
have better head and leader than Car.
dinal Girolamo Maria Gotti. Few men
are so generally spoken OF. He is man
of superior endowment,a lover of justice,
cool and deliberate. think that a GER
tain prejudice that exists against electing
monk may prove an obstacle in Card1.
nal Gotti's way, but this is purely per-
sonal opinion, and one which it is to be
hoped will prove to be mistaken.
In the matter of papal elections it is
well not to forget that the last may be
first and the first last. Who will be the
next pope? 1t may be that the imam of
God" destined to succeed is still an OBJ.
scure monk or parish priest in some re-
mote part of Italy.