The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-07-23
THE POPE's SUCCESSOR.

GDe important question: Vi HIS huCCeshOr
is interesting the entire world. The
successor will be selected at the forth
coming conclave of cardinals and until
then many predictions will be made,
but nothing definite known Marion
Crawford, not only an intimate friend
of Pope Leo XIII, but appointed by
him as his biographer, has prepared
an article on Pope Leo's Successor,
which appears in the August number
of Everybody's Magazine. Certainly
no one is better qualified to make pre-
dictions regarding the appointment
than is Mr.. Crawford, inasmuch as
being Leo's chosen biographer he has
had access to material and acquain-
lance with candidates which no other
living person could possibly have.
Pope Leo's choice is said to be Cardi-
nal Girolamo Maria Gotti. Regard
ing him we quote in part from Mr..
Crawford:
Perhaps few men are more gen
orally looked upon as eligible to sue
coed Pope Leo XIII. chan Cardinal
Girolamo Maria Gotti. He was sud
denly brought from the silence of his
cell to Rome, to be raised almost di-
rectly to the cardinalate, and the
monastic humility and simpli-
city, which are a second nature to
him, confer upon him the sort of
Il ,,l, = l,vrt
Though so long monk, he seems to
possess a thorough knowledge of the
world, and, though he has lived
greet part of his life in the solitude
of the closet, he has marvellous
power of winning affection and trust
from all who know him. He has not
been long at the head of the Propa-
ganda, but his management is both
keen and wise. Pope Leo XIII. es-
teemed him so highly, according to re-
port, as to designate him as his prob
able successor. This may or may not
be exactly true, but the Catholic
church could scarcely have a better
head and leader. l think that a GER
tain prejudice which now undoubted-
ly exists against the choice of monk
for the papal throne may prove an
obstacle in the way of Cardinal Gotti's
election but this is purely personal
opinion. and one which it is to be
hoped will prove to be mistaken. "
Some persons have believed that
Cardinal Svampa is predestined as
the next Pope, and regarding this
prophecy Mr.. Crawford says: Most
people have heard of the supposed
prophetic notices applied, in the
eighteenth century by mysterious
person once known as the Pseudo
Malachi, to the future popes. It
chances that the motto which falls to
the successor Of Leo XIII. will be
Ignis ardens-a burning fire'-and,
as the word Vampa means flame
IN Italian, ingenious people have, of
course, discovered that Cardinal
Svampa must be the coming Pope.
The lower classes, especially, are
quite sure of it. His chances depend
on something better and more trust
worthy, however. Few combine such
polictical ability with such theologi-
cal training. The man is young and
strong, full of energy and practical
sense, we'll accustomed to command
through long experience in governing
one of the largest and most difficult
'dioceses in Italy, and thoroughly
able to cope with all sorts Of difficult
ties, great and small, sudden and
menacing, or delicately intricate. He
possesses, too, a fine appreciation
of modern intellectual and social
wants, ready intuition. and a strong
will, A very good candidate himself,
he is essentially man who influences
Others, and whose power will be felt
in the coming conclave.
A possible successor to the papacy,
Cardinal Andrea Ferrari, Archbishop
of Milan, and the one surviving
elector of Leo XIII, Cardinal Oreglia
di Santo Stefano and Cardinal Ram
polla are also discussed by Mr.. Craw-
ford with regard to the pontificate.
Concerning them he says in brief;
Cardinal Andrea Ferrari, Arch
bishop of Milan, has got reputation
of being 'intransigent' and bellicose
which he hardly deserves The Mil
anese aristocracy is hostile to him, on
the ground that, under his sway, it
has forfeited the preponderant inhu-
ence it formerly exercised in the COM
munal affairs of the city. 1t is quite
true that he disapproved of the arts
tocracy's attitude, which he regard
ed as inclining far too much toward
atheistic liberalism, and he charged
society with utter Indifference to
the sufferings of the lower classes,
who are daily more exposed to the
violence of the predatory socialistic
leaders. The cardinal, therefore,
turned to the people themselves,
as opposed to the aristocraoy, and