The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-04

Rome. July 31.-9 D. m.-Tha largest
Conclave in the history of the Catholic
church has now assembled in the sis
il chapel for the purpose of electing
= successor TO Leo XIII. Sixty-two
cardinals with over two hundred cIeri-
cal and lay attendants, are, to all in
tent and purposes, prisoners within the
vatican. One Of them, Cardinal Her
rerOy EspinOsa, archbishop Of VaIen-
cia. was Frustrated Immediately AFTER
entering the c%Onclave, and lies iii in
nais will enter upon the solemn duty
Of choosing the e pop by ballot.
The general Impression exists that
within two or three days. possibly,
though not probably tomorrow. d new
pope will have been chosen.
Representation as to who will wear
h tiara as LeO's successor have little
value. as even the cardinals. VINO mis-
evening entered their cells seemed to
DE without definite ideas as to the is
sue. Cardinals RampOlIa, Serafin Van
nutelli, Dipietri, GOtti and Oreglia
continue to be most frequently men-I
IiOned as the likeliest candidates. but
the the name of one of them
Is mentioned a hundred reasons are
supplied to show that he could NOT
possibly be elected.
The rival claims of the leading ItaI-
ian cardinals, so freely ventilated III
n local press, are matters which are
Bill important in connection with the
decision of the cOnclaye, because il is
assumed, as Il f%OregOne conclusion. that
[hR next nncIIn9nt Of tho hnIu q u|II
DE al italian. The foreign cardinals
have shown no indication of opposition
TO this assumption. but however, will
ing they may be to honor an italian
1t is believed the serious differences
among the Italians themselves on mat
tiers of political and religious opinion
must be reconciled before one of them.
suitable to all sections, can be elected.
More interesting, perhaps, j IA GER
tain way is the impression which pre-
walls in certain sections that, no mat
ter what the verdict of the Ionclave
may be, great changes are impending
an the policy of the vatican and that
within O year or two the new pope
Ril no longer consider himself a
prisoner in the vatican. but will, IN
likely leave its precincts whenever nee
essary.
BY 8 o'clock this afternoon I'll the
cardinals had arrived at the vatican
S1Iu 11du SOII6 ~ lIICI CtllS- COIi-
clave has been duly formed ard lis
members are now shut from the outer
world. Everything is prepared for TO-
mOrrOW'S voting. At the vatican doors
h Swiss guards kept back the curious
crowd among whom were man.
priests. Photographers vigorously
snapped the occupants of the black
carriages prior to their entrance to
what one cardinal called prison.
Previous to- 1870 the ceremony of the
cardinals entering in c%Onclave was
much more imposing than that Of to-
day. as it was held in the quirinal
palace. They met in the little church
OF d SilvestrO Al Quiriniale and from
there walked in procession through
she streets to the palace or if the con-
-clave was to be held in the vatican,
the cardinals met in st. Peters. a pro-
CesSion was formed there and. after
some ceremonies, wended its way to
the apostolic palace.
In pleasing confusion, the cardinals,
each escorted by the nob guard as
signed to him.. went to their respective
cells o. apartments. Some Of the
venerable prelates, such as Cardinals
Nocenni (who was born in 1929 Gre
soni Cborn in 1889 and Langente Cborn
IN 1920 were so exhausted tina they
mad to be supported by the noble
guard in ttendance on them.
Just before going into his cell today
= prominent cardinal threw an Inter
Easting side light upon the chances of
Rampolla.
Leo'S secretary of state has been per
Sistly abused recently. by the govern
ment papers for his temporal power
policy.
II am so sure" said the cardinal 10
n representative OF the Associated
Press. that the public attacks upon
Cardinal Rampolla by the government
are not inspired with a view to work
Ang up mons Catholics and cardinals
n spirit of enthusiasm for him which
might greatly increase his chances Of
election. Indeed. I am pretty certain
that the italian government would
not TO be at al sorry to see Cardinal
RampOlla wear the tiara. as do not
believe the government has any serious
disposition to alter the existing reIa
tions between the vatican and the
q%uirinal-"
There is no CUB that Cardinal Ram
Dolla. who is so we'll known to all the
cardinals because OF the position he
held under the late pope. has a strong
following.
one OF the interesting features of to.
days preparations was the compare.
Give ignorance displayed by some o
n Cardinals concerning the ~conclave:
method Of procedure. One OF them who
looks old enough to participate in any
number Of ~conclaves, although Cardi.
nal Oreglia of course is the only mem.
Der Of the sacred college with previous
experience, ingeniuousiy admitted thai
ne had not cad the rules governing the
technicalities of voting since he was q
boy at a seminary.
Before entering the conclave, Cardi-