Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-21
Safeguarding the Papal Throne.

safeguarding tne lapal lnfCne.
Plus X. Immediately following his
election to the papacy, issued a roga-
ton Ca law or decree) against the use
of the veto by secular sovereigns in
papal elections. 1t was called forth,
ii is understood. by the objection ad-
vanced by Austria to the selection Of
Cardinal Rampolla as pope-so' that
in striking at the civil veto the pres
ent POPE nullified the very instrument
which removed his competitor.
This act of Plus has just come to
public knowledge through its publica-
ton in the volumes containing the
acts of the pope and new legislation
concerning papal elections The act
was translated by The Catholic Stand
ard and Times. and extracts from It
are furnished in the Literary Digest
1t is so unusual in its nature and of
so very general interest that its sal
lent parts are published herewith. The
Pope asserts that
when first, all unworthy as we are,
We assembled this chair of Peter we
deemed it most urgent duty of our
apostolic Office to provide that the life
of Christ should manifest itself with
absolute freedom, by the removal Of
all eXtraneous interference, as its
Divine Founder willed that it should
manifest itself, and as it's lofty mis-
sion imperatively requires"
The Pope goes on to declare that
, the Apostolic See has never approved
of the veto, and that his predecessors
/; in the high office have always shown
reference of the secular powers. This
| is plainly to be seen. he says. in the
constitutions of Paul ", Gregory
XIV, Clement XII. and Plus TX The
IpOpe's prOnouncement continues:
"But-and experience has shown il
the measures hitherto taken for pre-
venting the civil veto or exclusive,
have not served their purpose. and on
account of the changed circumstances
of the times the intrusion of the civil
power in our day is more clearly thar
ever before destitute of all founda
ton in reason or equity; therefore we
by virtue of the apostolic charge en-
trusted to us, and following in the
footsteps of our predecessors, after
having maturely deliberated, with Ger
tain knowledge and by our own mo
ton, do absolutely condemn the civi
veto or exclusive as it is alst
called. even when expressed under tn,
form of mere desire, and all inter
MENTIONS and intercessions whatsoever
Idecreeing that it is not lawful for any
body, not even the supreme ruler!
of states, under any pretext, to inter
pose or interfere in the grave matte
of the election of the Roman pontiff
Wherefore, in virtue of holy obedi
ence, under threat of the divine judg
ment and pain of excommunicatiol
'latae sententiae' reserved in a spe
cial manner to the future pontiff, W,
prohibit all and single the cardinal
of the Holy Roman church. and lik =
wise the secretary of the Sacred Co!
lege of Cardinals. and all others wit
take part in the conclave to receive
even under the form of simple de
oiO, tHS OlilSC w piOpoSHlS the NelD
or exclusive or to make known thi
veto in whatever manner it may hav,
come to their knowledge, to the Sacre.
College of Cardinals, either taken al
a whole or to the individual Father,
Cardinals. either by writing or by wore
of mouth, whether directly and proxi
mately, or indirectly and through 9th
ers. And it is our will that this pro
! hibition be extended to all the inter
ventions above mentioned, and to al
other intercessions whatsoever, BY
which the lay powers of whatsoever
grade and order, endeavor to intrude
themselves in the election of the
pontiff.
! Finally, We vehemently exhort, in
the same words as those used by oul
predecessors, that in the election oil
the pontiff they pay no attention
whatever to the appeals of secular
princes or other worldly considera
tons (Constit. In eligendis.' section
&c, of Plus w., Const. 'Apostolatus of