New-York tribune., 1903-08-16
THE PEASANT POPE.
r5is Proclamation as Sovereign and
Self-Imp posed IN prisonment.
Rome, August 4.

.,nvr that a successor to Leo XIII has been
elected. IS that the office has sought the man.
--t Patriarch Of Venice has not been an am
,t.to,,s irtrjg1Ier When Noble Guard on the
e-st 6av of the conclave conducted him to his
or, and expressed the hope that the election
--o,,l5 xail 10 him the answer was, mo; have
o re+,,rn ticket" That was practical method
~ indicating that he had core to Rome with
-. on+icination Of remaining there as "the
.tro,ea prisoner Of the Vatican" His name
- not mentioned as a candidate by the daily
.es At Rome. which was preoccupied with dis
60. NJ the chances OF Cardinals Rampolla,
ro,,i vannuteln and Di Pietro. He had kept
- ~ Vatican politics since his promotion to
a. ,s .riarchafe and had seldom visited Rome.
= ba had no enemies in the Sacred College, he
had no powerful friends to extol his virtues
and 10 plead his cause. There are trustworthy
intirnations from cardinals that great pressure
from his colleagues was required before ne
could be induced 10 accept the tiara when there
,,.as q concentra ton of votes upon him a nom
v,oIIrical candidate who would divide the con-
claye the least The new Pope reigns not be-
cause he has aspired to pre-eminence in the
Church much less because he has encouraged
snvfoav 10 work for his election but because the
trend Of tendencies and events has pointed to
his elevation to the throne. He submitted with
cardinals that it was a cross, not a crown,
which they were forcing him to bear. When
the curtain is raised by his future biographer
q close correspondence will be disclosed be-
tween the closing scenes of the conclaveS of
1916 and 1903
The election Of Plus Y proves that they also
serve who only stand and wait" The career of
the Patriarch OF Venice has passed almost with
out observation outside his archdiocese. He
began as a good parish priest. His parish is
row the world. Faithful, indefatigable. digni-
fed and Independent, he has concentrated his
energies upon HIS work, as the good Bishop of
Lnola did in his time; and he has not concerned
himself with the intrigues of the Curia with
the byplay Of Vatican politics Promotion has
come TO him partly by force OF circumstances,
but largely because he had been doing his work
quietly and not courtng distinction ad-
vancement. Unlike the political candidates,
Cardinals Rampola. Vannuteln and Gotti, he
had not excited resentment in Rome nor the
jealousy Of foreign powers. He was not the
preferred candidate of any nation, nor Of any
section of the Church Tories and Liberals
among the cardinals voted for him. Trained
diplomatists who were dividing the conclave
and arousing the suscepubilities Of rival Cath
Ole powers were set aside, and the ultimate
choice fell upon Cardinal Sarto, whose enlight-
ened management of his archdiocese was prac-
tical evidence of his capacity for directing the
destinies of the worldwide Church. Plus
Catholics viii find in the unexpected result
proof Of supernatural guidance, and that view
is entitled to respect from Protestants who
read the account OF the first Apostolic election,
recorded in the Book OF Acts. An extreme re-
ligious Interpretation of the choice Of the visible
head Of the Roman communion does not ex-
rfsT9r Sr4aF olxr htrYo on
agencies by which the preferences of the italian.
Latin and German groups were overruled and
The votes Of the cardinals massed upon the
strongest and best compromise candidate.
The Italian cardinals are not likely to well
come during this century any candidate for the
Papacy who does not belong to their own
circle. For that reason they are well satisfied
10 have the conflict between the Vatican and
the Quirinal continue Indefinitely. SO long as
there is no reconciliation between the Church
and the national government the election of an
Italian Pope becomes inevitable at every con-
claVe fer. as Cardinal Manning remarked when
his own name was suggested at the conference
which preceded the conclave of 1878, a foreigner
cannot effectively renew the protest against the
usurpation Of authority in Rome The Italian
cardinals, engrossed with their local functions
ana dlGnlues, lack the breadth Of mind required
for discerning the requirements of a worldwide
Church. IL is the responsibility of power which
gradually lberates Pope from provincial mar
rOwness and invigorates his intellect Pilgrims
visit him from every quarter of the world: the
burden Of governing the Church is lightened bv
constant intercourse with foreign bishops and
the outlook from the Vatican windows is en-
IaTGed year by year The Pope by virtue of
his unique position, becomes the best informed
catholic precisely the President of the
I HlfeQ States
o. the sources Of public opinion and the opera
ton OF republican institutions There can he
no education for the Papacy, whether in the
diplomatic service or in the administration OF
the most popuous or difficult archdiocese so
eihcleht as actual experience on the Vatican
hfohe. while the new Pope has not vet i'm,
pressed his personality strongly upon the C,,+b-
Ole world. his reign inevitably viii he ,,e,,a+o7
and inspired by the discipline OF resnonsihiIt.
The new Pope, who has received to-dav ,ba
homage Of the princes of the Church and b.a,
3oyIulIy acclaimed sovereign by rnultitudes in
ST Peters. is the son Of peasants 90 -,
hunlDlest order Ills elevation to the throne i
supreme act Of democracy. and II is rot
strange that he was profoundly affected ba+t,
At the close Of the conclave and bv tho -, -
loyalty and good feeling in the basiIica - -,
balcony overlooking the great nave he esen,.5
to fall back upon the group Of ecclesjas+io, CO..
support; but that was transient vapar,, %
emotion. u
The peasant-born Pope, with all his dam
cratic simplicity, is an absolfpa r,,,a-
and cannot share his responsibilities with 49,
advisers or groups OF supporters. There ,,r =,
no power behind his throne. He may NOT cIst-,
1hiaIlioiity except ex cathedra in matters oe
dogma and his territorial sovereignty NAV he
restricted de facto to the Vatican. the Tataror
ana the ruined Castel Gondolfo. overlooking tho
Alhan Lake hui Traditional -