Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-25
rhs conclave and its Procedure.


late Pope Leo XIII. will begin its sit
+,nos on August /. This will enable
all the Cardinals, with the possible ex-
cen+,on of Cardinal Moran Of New
South Wales, row on his way to Rome
to be present and participate in the
proceedings.
one more than half Of all the living
Cardinals of the church constitute
Quorum for the holding Ct conciave.
IT "a necessary, however, that the sue
cessful candidate should receive the
votes OF at least two-thirds of the
Cardinals participating in the con-
clave.
The coming conclave will be held IN
the Vatican, where Popes have been
chosen for centurssapast. In 1878, ow-
ing to differences with the Italian gov
eminent, touching the question OF the
temporal power of the church. there
was q strong feeling in favor OF ad-
journing the conclave to some foreign
country. Crispi strong antl-ciericai
was then in power in Italian affa1rs,
and the relations between the church
and state were such that many OF the
Cardinals felt that their deliberations
might better be conducted amid differ
ont surroundings. On the first day IL
VAC even voted to 90 abroad; but the
following day this vote was recinded,
ard the conclave was held, as USUAL
at the Vatican.
The indications are that the APP
preaching conclave will be, in many
ways. different from any that has
been held in the past. 1t will of course
be conducted in accordance with the
old established rules and usages. The
ARRANGEMENTS will be. in charge of
cardinal .Oreglia, dean of the Sacred
College, who is the only Cardinal who
will participate in the conclaEe who was
not created by Pope Leo He will be
assisted by the deans of the other two
orders of Cardinals, Cardinal Macchi
for the cardinal .deacons, and Cardinal
Rompalla for the cardinal priests. If
nrecedent is followed as there is every
reason to believe that it will be, the
conclave will meet in the beautiful
Sistene chapel. Built by Pope Sixtus
". this famous chapel has been
adorned by the greatest Italian paint
ers. On the walls are, the works OF
Signarelli, Batticolli, and Perugino;
but these are dimmed blythe splendor
OF the frescoes Of Michael Angelo i'll
Illustrating the creation and the last
judgment.
Connected with this chapel are
apartments for the accommodation of
the Cardinals, and the arrangements
are such that when their eminences
have entered the place of conclave, this
whole section of the Vatican can be
shut off entirely from the outsfdt
world. Once shut the massive doors
are doubled locked, and the meals foi
the assemblage during it's continuance
are cooked in the Vatican and passed
in through a small wicket gate OF
easement in. the great door Two bal,
lots are taken each day until choice
is made.
The coming conclave will be composed
of Cardinals created, with one single
exception, by Pope Leo. Their ex'
perience, therefore. has been wholly
ecclesiastical. The loss of tempora
power has effected great change II
the general makeup of the college
Formerly a majority of it's members
were drawn from the great families O.
the Roman nobility. The men wht
will meet in the approaching conclave
have come largely from the plain peo
pie, and owe theirSSkominence in thu
church to their own character. indus
try and ability, as displayed in tn
work Of their holy calling. The old ira
dition therefore 'ttthat his holiness
should be a man of patrician birth ma!
no longer. obtain, as it is said tina
Rompalla is now the only Italian
Cardinal who fulflls absolutely thu
condition. Cardinal Gotti, whose higi
character and conspicuous ability hav
made him leading candidate for tn
successorship to Leo was the son OF
sheperd.
More than ever before will the com
ing conclave stand for the church as
whole, and more difficult than ever be
fore will it be to predict in advanc
what may be the result of its delioera
tons. The foreign element will hav'
a potent voice in its councils. Amos
two-thirds of the Cardinals were one
Italians. Now barely one-half are ma
tives of that country. Formerly, too,
large majority of the Italian Cardinal
were from Rome, now half Of them ar
from other parts Of the empire. Thes
changes in the composition of the con
clave all tend to make the result of it