Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-04
Pope Plus K.

The cardinals in concIave at Rome have
solved the problem presented to them by
the death of Pope Leo XIII in rather short
order, considering the number of available
candidates and the influences which 1t Is
known were being brought to bear for
favorites- Cardinal Sarto, patriarch Of
Venice, is chosen on the seventh ballot. the
result being in general what was expected
by many who had followed the contest
keenly. namely, the selection of man
in the second rank of possibilities rather
than one of the three or four leaders OF
the field. 50 strong were these leaders
that 1t seemed improbable that one of
them could land the prize and therefore
the best informed discussion of the matter
which has come from Rome has conferred
upon the probabilities of the compromise
which 1t was felt must inevitably follow
deadlock In conclave.
Cardinal Sarto, who will hencefOrth be
known by the title chosen by him and an
nounced upon his election Plus X. is sixty
eight years of age-the same age as Leo
XIII upon his ascent of the throne of st.
Peter-and is renowned for his piety and
charitable disposition. He has served as
patriarch of Venice for ten years. and is
known to have been close in the confidence
of the late pope. He had not identified
himself with either of the wings of the
Vatican in the matter of the policy toward
the Quirinal nor is he pronounced advo-
cate of radical foreign policies He appears
to have been an ideal man for cOmpro-
mise.
Naturally the chief interest in such
moment rests in the probable policies of
the new pope with regard to the relations
bly, Italy. 1t may be accepted that as the
new pope trends in approaching this an
cient issue of temporal power he will lean
in his dealings with other countries. There
Is a strong party today opposed to the
prisoner of the Vatican" theory. Just
whether Plus X will join those ranks or
not must remain for future answer. But
meanwhile interesting ray of light is
shed the question by paragraph de-
voted to Cardinal Sarto In the course of
recent article In Everybody's Magazine by
+. Marion Crawford who is regarded as
of the best informed of writer's today
concerning Vatican affairs. having enjoyed
the friendship of the late pope. He says:
Cardinal Sarto was much talked of in
Italy when. on his preferment to the We
netian patriarChate in 1893, he encountered
d determined opposition on the part of
the italian government before he could
take possession of his see. The government
maintained that the patriarchate was part
of the King of Italys patronage. and that
1t was the kings right to present his own
candidate. The difficulty which ensued
was in reality solved. or shelvcd because
Cardinal Sarto. though chosen by the pope.
was favOrite with the Italian govern
ment and with King Humbert hmself-a
rather singular case in Italy. The Cardi
nal has. therefore, ruled his diocese I'M
disturbed during the last ten years below
ed by Catholics esteemed by the govern
neHt, and respected by his enemies. Under
his sway the Catholic institutions of Venice
have thriver exec .dingly, and the cardi-
nails pety. combined with his very note
worthy common sense, has given him the
reputation of being an ideal bishop"
SO it can easily be conceived that Plus X
Will occupy for time a neutral position
in this important matter. permitting the
situation to develop and the issue to await
attack. With cordial friendship existing
between the occupants of the Vatican and
the Quirinal a subsistence of the factional
feeling should not be difficult of accom-
plishment.
1t is to be hoped that Plus X will adopt
toward other countries. particularly Amer
lea, the same broad liberal policy which
characterized the long reign of his pred
ecessor. In the Philippines especially
problems await final settlement of a nature
to test his character as d progressivist c.
a reactiOnary.