Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18
Death Of Parooohi Removes One Of the Most
Formidable Candidates.
WAS A TALENTED AND AMBITIOUS MAN
Age of Present Occupant of St. Peters
Throne Makes Gossip Acute.
END OF HIS CAREER MAY COME ANY DAY
stiI1 Displays wonderful Mental and
Physical vitality I'm Spite of
Fact He is in His Ninety
Third Year,

Copyright 19O3 by Press Publishing Coz
ROME, Jan. 17.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Special Telegram )-Guessing as
to who shall be pope after Leo XIII, now
on the eve of his 93d year, has been
greatly quickened by the death Of Cardinal
Parocchi and the appointing Of Cardinal
serohno Vannutelli to Parocchis office Of
sub-dean of the Sacred college, or vice
chancellor Of the Catholic church, as some
put It,
Cardinal Parocchi was one Of the leading
candidates for the papacy. He was a man
Of fine intellect, great mental activity and
towering ambition. At one time he ia
vored federated Italy, with the pope for
its spiritual protector His views gen.
orally were broad and progressive. His
death leaves Cardinal Oreglia the only
member Of the Sacred college created by
Plus TX.
The general impression in vatican circles
seems to be that, with Parocchi removed
from the contest for the triple crown,
Cardinal Gottis chance is much improved.
Yet there are not a few who profess to
believe that Vannutellrs swift appoint
ment puts him in the lead and these per-
sons are giving widespread publicity to
their viow
Haste Causes Comment.
The stir caused in Rome by the appoint
ing of Cardinal Serafno Vannutelli to the
important position but lately occupied by
Cardinal Parocchi is quite ineligible.
Rome, or. in other words, the pope, does
not as a rule show haste in selecting dignl-
taries charged with administering church
affairs. Moreover. the prominence which
for many years had attached to Cardinal
Parocchi might have been expected to make
| ~
that eminent prelate's successor. But there
may have been private as we'll public
reasons for the pontiff's action.
During the last years of his life Cardinal
Parocchi had fallen from the high place
he once held in the hierarchy. From being
| the respected, though not greatly liked.
| vicar OF the pope, he had come to be
persona non grata ut the vatican. and
Rome does not forget easily those who
offend her. -.-.-.4.s--------.-
On the other hand in estimating the
Significance Of Vannutellis appointment 1t
should be borne in mind that his new
dignity is less weighty than the post of
vicar general, for Parocchi was virtually
deposed, or that OF secretary of state or
prefect of the propaganda.
Chances Not Altered.
! II the Importance Of his new ofice were
| to be accepted as an indication of his
chances of eventually wearing the tiara,
| Cardinal Vannutelli could not be regarded
as nearly so formidable a candidate as
! Cardinal Satolli or Cardinal Rampolia.
! That Vannutelli was in the first rank OF
| the dignitaries thought to have hope OF
sitting on St. Peters throne had long been
known. But 1t is not clear that the hope
has been materially strengthened or dlmin-
ished by recent occurrences.
Speculation as to the papal successorship
always rather vain, has of late years come
! to be almost foolish. Leo XIII has given
no evidence of being moribund and none OF
the cardinals whom rumor credits with an
anxiety to replace him has up to the pres
ent demonstrated that he is either spiritu-
ally or intellectually his equal
OF the five or six ''papabili" (papal pos
Abilities), however, Cardinal Seraino Van
nutelli mot to be confounded with his
brother, Cardinal VannutellD, probably is
one Of the most worthy. While somewhat
conservative. he Is no longer antagonistiC
to the progressive and enlightened policy
which Leo XIII initiated and which has
made Catholicism heartily and generally
respected even by the Protestants o.
America. Ten years ago he was by NJ
means in sympathy with what is vulgarly
termed Catholic "Americanism" Once a
least, at about that period. by objecting tC
his transfer to the archdiocese OF Bologna
he incurred the displeasure of the pope.