Arizona republican., 1903-08-04
Second and Third Choices,

In the nature of things the conclave is nearer it's end than when it began but the end is no more clearly visible than it was on the morning of the eleventh day after the death of Leo XIII. Therefore the following observ- ations by the Hartford Courant may be said to be as timely as they were on the morning of the opening of the con- clave.
 In the gossip that comes from Rome in regard to new pope two cardinals are rather frequently mentioned. These are Angelo di Pietro and Agliardi. Mr. Crawford speaks with some warmth of Cardinal Agliardi. and with entire respect of Cardinal di Pietro.
 Cardinal di Pietro impresses Mir Crawford as "a man of moderate opin- ions. who exercises no especial in fiuence in the government of the church. He has been prefect of the congregation of the council, apostolic delegate in the Argentine Republic, internuncio in Brazil. and nuncio in Munich and Madrid. but "his long di- plomatic career has left no trace in his character" He is now prodatarius of the holy see, and, while not neglecting his duties, leads a retired and almost monastic life.
 Cardinal Agliardi, who is bishop of Albano and vice-chancellor to the Chiesa della Volpe, is described by MT. Crawford as possessing the sympathy and good will of the public generally. He is a man Of very strong character and of the most decided opinions. which he will not modify to please any man. but which he does not try to force up on others. His manner is simple and affable; he is learned without any van ity of his requirements: he is kindly and charitable-altogether the ideal of what a gentlemen Should be- While Cardinal Agliardi was nuncio in Aus tria-Hungary he became acquainted with the Christian democrats Mir. Crawford says that at that time he took part" in their social struggles; and that that experience, together with his legal knowledge and wide exper- fence of the world, has directed his sympathies toward Christian democ- racy.'''
 Each of these cardinals is spoken of as a possible second choice; but Car dinal di Pietro. who is described by another authority as "seventy-five SdlHtiy, SCHOldTly dlu ITdll, really dp- pears to be a third choice. The two leading tendencies in the approaching conclave are headed by Cardinal Ram pclla and Serafino Vannutelli. Cardinal Rampclla has attained this position, we judge, largely by reason of his long association as secretary of state with Leo XIII. The elder Cardinal Vannu- telli, on the contrary, heads a body of If qualities. He is an experienced and accomplished diplomatist having serv- ed his church in this capacity in Mex ico. Ecuador, Peru, Bavaria, Belgium and Austria Hungary. In all these po- sitions .'his real ability and high per soral qualities" to follow MT Craw- ford'S phrase, "contributed to make him widely known as persona grata to sovereigns, governments and the di- plo.nacy at large His position in the actual government of the Roman church is one of great influence, both by reason of his ability and moderation and because of the offices held by him. He is secretary of the universal inqul- sition, grand penitentiary, and mem Der of the congregation of bishops and regular clergy, of the council of the propaganda of the council upon eccle- siastical affairs extraordinary, and of the commission on election of Italian bishops. He is second in seniority in the sacred college. bishop of Porto and Santa Rufina, and also, for the time being at least. successor in office to the late and widely lamented Cardinal Pa rocchi, who was vice-chancellor of the church and pontifical vicar of Rome. We have seen mo report as to Cardinal Vannutelli's position in regard to Christian democracy" a matter that was dear to Leo XIII. Tl.e elGer Van putelli is( however, in every known re- spect, so much of the same kind of a man as Leo MIL. that it is a fair prs sumption that he looks with favor upon that movement; 7 movement which IS simply an attempt to 1la!-e the plain people of Europe, in their political work. whether they call themselves so- cial democrats CT socialists or what not, Catholic. or at any rate Christian, in stead of anti-Catholic or anti-ChriStian.
 The singular and interesting point is, that when the rather antiquie Cardinal Ledochowski died. Leo XIII. diu not fill his place as prefect of the congre- gation of the propaganda by the ap- pointment of Serafln0 Vannutelh, but instead placed the plain born Carmelite monk Girolamo Maria Gotti in that office Cardinal Gotti had always up to that time lived the ordinary monk ish life, outside of Rome, with the eX- ception of one short mission to Brazil. 1t was probably the successful eXecu- tion of this mission to Brazil together with the official duties already heaped