The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
WHEN Plus VIII WAS CHOSEN.
Late Pope, Then Only 10, Wrote of
Event to His Brother.
Baltimore Sun.

Leo XIII was in Rome when Leo MI
died and his successor, Pope Plus VIII, was
elected. He was only student at the time,
and his letters to his brother. John Bap-
tista, gave a full account of these notable
events. Joachimo Pecci was then nineteen
years of age and a student at the Ecclesi-
Under date of February %, 1929, he wrote:
Before l tell you what happened after
the Pope'S death let me tell you that he
left remarkable will. He states that no
monument must be erected to him, as has
been the custom. He orders that on the
proper day his body shall be deposited near
the statue of Plus VI and that a simple
stone tablet shall be placed over it, with
the inscription:
Here lies Leo XII, the least of the
Popes: There is much talk about this in
scription in Rome
Thirteen days after the POpeS death the
Conclave of Cardinals met.
Several days before the meeting of the
cOnclave," the young student wrote, there
were rumors regarding certain lodges. 1t
was said that certain persons who did not
like the regime had held meetings. 1t is
certain that Capelle, who acted as gov
ernor OF Rome for the College of Cardinals,
gave orders for the arrest of large num-
Der who had taken part in the meeting and
that a hundred daggers were found in a
private house Inhabited by one of the pris-
onerS. The plot was to wait until the car
dinals had met, raise rebellion in the
city and slaughter those in authority. But,
thanks TO God! Dominus dissipavit consilia
ION the day of the conclave the guards
to the number Of 500 were stationed around
the building, while other constables in cit
liens clothes mixed in the crowd. The
number of cardinals who marched to the
conclave was thirty-two Five others-was
it from fear?-went later. These were Ber-
nettl. Marc, Guerrieri, Rivarola and Vidoni
A great crowd was assembled to see them
pass an hour before sunset.
ALREADY three days have passed since
the conclave met, and who wi be Pope?
TlafC Ia
tell? Castiglione, Giustinani aud Espraldi
Pacca are named as possible success full
candidates. The last was only two votes
short yesterday at the scrutinum (the read
ing Of the vetes).
1T is said here that the new Pope will
soon be chosen. | trust il will be for the
best interests of the church..
On March Z the Pope wrote:
The Romans felt satisfied this morning
that the new Pope was elected i'm the per-
son OF Cardinal de Gregorio. On the rumor
great crowd went to Monte Cavalio.
went. TOO. but we saw the clouds OF smoke
rise and our hopes were shattered"
This reference TO smoke relates TO the
custom of burning the ballots when vote
had been taken without result.
About the conclave is dark and uncer-
tam. the student wrote OH March L.
Each one wants to elect that cardinal
most pleasing to him and from whom he
can expect most as Pope. On this account
they would have many Popes as there
are cardinals Cardinal de Gregorio is GER
t~iliiss as we say mere, pap2Dlle-WOrtny
to be elected Pope. 1t seems probable that
he viii be elected Pope. This is the rumor
current IN Rome at least. II is reported
also that several of those In the conclave-
servants secretaries, etc, of the cardinals
have been expelled from the building
The city is fun of rumors as TO the con-
clsve, young Pecci wrote on March 20.
1T is reported that Pecca has no longer a
following. De Gregorio has good prospects
large number of the cardinals vote for
him and no other. Cardinal Albani and his
followers are fighting for Castiglione. Car
dinals Caistaidt and Capprillari are con-
stantly gaining votes. and il is reported
that Cardinal Tirrao has informed the Coll
lege OF Cardinals that the King of Naples
will not recognize De Gregorio If elected
All of this is mere rumor, and If wished
to report all that are flying I should never
STOP Some hold that a Pope will be elected
IN a few days. others that months, even
year will pass before any one is elected %
On April 2, 1872 he wrote:
AT last. God be praised! we have a new