The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-02
EARLY CHOICE EXPECTED1
The Question of Who Will Wear the
Tiara on Every Lip---Chances
of Rampolla--- Three of
the Cardinals
(By the Associated Press.)


Rome, July 31st, 9 p. m.-The largest
conclave in the history of the Catholic
Church has now assembled in the Sistine
Chapel for the purpose of eecting sue
with over two hundred clerical and lay
attendants. are. to all intents and pur-
poses, prisoners within the Vatican. One
of them. Cardinal Herraro Espinosa
Archbishop of Valencia, was Frustrated inn
mediately after entering the conclave and
lies i'll in his cell. Tomorrow morning the
cardinals will enter upon the solemn duty
of choosing the new Pope by ballot. The
general impression exists that within two
or three days, possibly, though not prob
airy tomorrow, new Pope will have been
chosen.
Representations as to who will wear
the tiara as Leo's successor have little
value, as seventy cardinals, who this ev-
ening entered their cells seemed to be
without definite ideas as to the issue.
Cardinals Rampolla, Serafino, Vannutel-
Ii, Dipietri, Gotti and Areglia continue to
be most frequently mentioned as the like
hest candidates, but the moment the name
of one of them is mentioned a hundred
reasons are supplied to show that he could
not possibly be elected.
The rival claims of the leading Italian
cardinals, so freely ventilated in the 10.
cal press, are matters which are all i'm
portant in connection with the decision of
the conclave, because it is assumed as
foregone conclusion, that the next occu-
pant of the Holy See will be an Italian
The foreign cardinals have shown no in
dication of opposition to this assumption,
but however willing they may be to honor
an Italian, it is believed the serious diff
ferences among the Italians themselves on
matters of political and religious opinion
must be reconciled before one of them,
suitable to all sections can be elected
More interesting, perhaps, in certain
way, is the impression which prevails in
certain section, that, no matter what the
verdict of the conclave may be, great
changes are impending in the policy of the
Vatican and that within year or two the
new Pope will no longer consider himself
prisoner in the Vatican, but will, unlike
v
BY O'Clock this afternoon all the car
dinals had arrived at the Vatican and had
gone to their cells. The conclave has been
duly formed and its members are now shut
from the outer world. Everything is pre-
pared for tomorrows voting At the Vat
lean doors the Swiss Guards kept back
the curious crowd, among whom were
many priests. Photographers vigorously
snapped the occupants of the black car
riages prior to their entrance to what one
cardinal called prison.
Previous to 1870 the ceremony of the
cardinals entering in conclave was much
more imposing than that of today as it
was held in the Quirinal Palace. They
met In the little church of San Silvestao
at Quiranale and from there walked in
procession through the streets to the pal
ace, as if the conclave was to be held in
the Vatican, the cardinals met in st. Pet
er's, procession was formed there and,
after some ceremonies. wendell its way to
the apostolic palace.
In pleasing confusion, the cardinals
each escorted by the Noble Guard assign
ed to him, went to their respective "cell'
or apartment. Some of the venerable
prelates, such as Cardinal Mocenni, (who
was born in 1929; Cretoni (born in 1889
and Langenieux. (born in 1920, We're so
exhausted that they had to be supported
by the Noble Guard in attendance on them
Just before going into his cell today a
prominent cardinal threw an interesting
sidelight upon the chances of Rampolla.
Leo's Secretary of State has been per-
sistently abused recently, by the govern
ment papers for his temporal power policy
Il am not sure" said the cardinal
to the representative of the Associated
Press, that the public attacks upon
Cardinal Rampolla by the government are
not inspired With view to working up
\ among Catholics and cardinals a spirit of
enthusiasm for him, which might greatly
increase his chances of election Indeed 1
am pretty certain that the Italian govern
ment would not be at all sorry to see Car
dinal Rampolla wear the tiara as, at
heart do not believe the government has
any serious disposition to alter the exist
ing relations between the Vatican and the
Quirininal.
There is no doubt that Cardinal Ram
polla, who is so well known to all the
cardinals because of the position he held
under the late Pope, has a strong follow
ing
One of the interesting features of to-
days preparations was the comparative
ignorance displayed by some of the car