The Irish standard., 1907-12-28
MS RULE SUPREME
Creation of Two New French
Cardinals by the Pope
Is a Blow at the State, Says
"Osservatore."

of June ri, gave out the following to
the Associated Press:
The creation of two new French
cardinals. the archbishop of Rheims
and the bishop of Marseilles, by the
pope at the secret consistory last Mon
day. caused great surprise in Vatican
circles. because. as well known, the
pope had himself declared some months
ago that he would not appoint another
French cardinal so long as the present
strained relations between the French
Government and the holy sec existed.
1t is admitted by everyone that the
two prelates, who were promoted, were
both instrumental in arranging many
matters with the French Government
on behalf of the chuch, since the con-
cordat was abolished, and that in a
very real sense they were the principal
organizers of the present ecclesiastical
regime of the church in France, now
that state support has been removed
and the French clergy have to. depend
for support upon the voluntary con-
tributions of the faithful. These facts
arc undeniable. and yet the Catholic
world can not but express it's surprise
that the pope should have changed his
mind regarding the matter.
1t is said by some that pressure was
brought to bear upon Plus X. by other
French cardinals. who demonstrated
that the church in France was not suf-
ticfently represented in the Sacred COL
lege, four French cardinals having lied
within twelve months. But the most
likely explanation of the matter is of
fered by prelates who ought to be in
q position to know. These claim that
recently the French Government tried
to insist that the pope should appoint
certain French prelates to membership
iii the Sacred College. Some of these
prelates were Objectionable in the
opinion of the Vatican authorities, in
any capacity. 1t is said that the pope
firmly refused to make the desired ap-
pointments and as a way of avoiding
the difficulty he nominated two addi-
tional French cardinals whose names
were not suggested by the French Of
ficials. AS matter Of fact the bish-
op of Marseilles has probably as little
e
ate of France.
These appointments were made es-
pecially that thereby the pope might
again assert his right to the free ad-
of the church, now that
the concordat has been abolished, and
so these two prelates are made car
dinals instead of those suggested by
the officials Of the French Govern
ment, which. Notwithstanding all state
ments to the contrary. still keeps in
relations with the Vatican.
1t is not the first time that the pope
church i'll France, Independent of the
French officials. About two years ago
the pope consecrated fourteen Inew
French bishops in the Vatican Basilica,
without having asked the pleasure of
the French officials in the matter. The
of the two new cardinals
is another case of the same kind and
demonstrates the fact that Plus X
intends to be independent from all in
fluences III the administration of the
church.
The four new cardinals are now here
and received their red hats at the
public consistory on Thursday, as did
Cardinal Pinaldi. lately the apostolic
nuncio at Madrid. The five cardinals
first had their mouths closed by the
pope, to signify that, they had not
yet the right to take part in the delib-
erations of the College of Cardinals,
and then, in accordance with church
traditions, their mouths were opened
and they became full-1edgcd members
of the Sacred College.
Tho apartments and the temporary
residences of the new cardinals were
beseiged by visitors. most of them prel-
ates of high degree, who went to ten
der their congratulations to the new
members of the Sacred College. This
occasion is known in Roman par
lance as the "visite di Galore" 1t is
customary for new cardinals to hold
special receptions when they receive
their colleagues and prominent prel.
ates. Three of the now cardinals
Rinaldini. Gasparri and Dc Lai-will
reside in this city, where they are en-
pected to render valuable services to
the Holy See. because of their practi-
cal knowledge of diplomatic and &C.
matters. The two French
will return to their sees with
in a few days, and they will aid in the
work Of reorganizing the church, in