The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-08-18
If POPE P.0us X SHOULD DIE.

Hunger Is pecOIuluS d matter Oh con-
aviction in all quarters. AS conse-
quence the possibility of the immi-
nent conclave is in the thoughts of
all persons connected with the Vati-
can, though there is not the slightest
sign as yet of canvassing or intrigue
among the Cardinals for the chair
of st. Peter. Nevertheless prognos-
tications as the, possible successor to
the present ~Pontiff are being made.
The Sacred College now has only
forty-nine members, twenty-eight
Italians and .twenty-one foreigners.
The Italian majority is strong in
number, but it is. stronger still in
influence. Nearly all of the Italian
Cardinals reside in Rome and direct
all the affairs of the Papacy. AS
| heads of congregations they have the
| power exercised elsewhere by cabinet
ministers. Their views are carried
out by Italian subordinates. All the
Papal ,nucios are Italian, depending
from an Italian Cardinal secretary
of state. The majority of the Vati-
can officials are Italian, from the
high chamberlain of the apostolic
palace to the lowest mental employed
about the premises. All these peo-
pie, with their influence, which is
strong, have nothing to gain and
everything to lose from a foreign
successor to Plus x.
Foreign Cardinals being thus out
of the contest, the choice of the next
Pope will be confined to one of the
twenty-eight Italian members of the
Sacred College. The best Catholic
sentiment in Rome at the present
time seems to be unanimous in it's
expression in favor of Cardinal Ram
polla as successor to Plus x. Cardi-
nal Rampolla came near being a sue
cessful candidate in 1903 when the
present Pope was chosen. 1t may be
assumed that the Cardinals who vot-
ed for him at the last conclave will
again support him, while it is we'll
known that many of his former adj
versaries are now his supporters.
Plus K himself is reported to have
said that he felt that his successor
should be Leo XIV, thus clearly des-
ignating Rampolla, whose policy
would have been a continuation of
that of Leo XIII.
The election of Rampolla at the
last canclave was prevented only by
Austria s veto. There will be no mem
ton of veto at the next conclave,
for one of the first acts of Pope Plus
x was the PRONUNCIATION of consti-
tuition abolishing the veto power of
Austria, Spain and France in the
Papal elections and prohibiting Car
:dinals under the pain of excommuni-
cation from receiving even in the
form of simple desire any demand
for their good Offices in presenting a
veto or making it known in the con-
clave regardless of whatever manner
it may have come to their knowledge.
Cardinal Rampolla is without ex-
ception at the present time the most
notable figure of, the Sacred College.
He is Sicilian by birth and it was
just sixty-eight years ago yesterday
that he first saw the light of day.
He was educated at the College Ca
pranica and the Academy of the
Noble Ecclesiastics in Rome, and in
1875 became attached to the nuncia-
ture at Madrid.
In 1877 he became secretary of the
congregation of Oriental Rites. In
1862 he was created titular Arch
bishop of St. Heracles and sent to
! Spain as nuncio. He was created and
proclaimed Cardinal, March IA, 1887,
taking title from the Church of St.
Cecilia, and a few months later was
named secretary Of state. Since the
death of his former chief, Pope Leo
XIII, he has lived a very retired life,
restricting, his activities almost ex-
clusively to- his duties as head priest
of St. Peters.
The distinguished family connec-
tons of Cardinal Rampolla, his init
mate acquaintance with Spanish and
English affairs, and his abilities to
cope with political statesmen are we'll
known. Also he is quite as famous
for his learning as for his ability
He has written the best works extant
upon the traditions of the Greek