Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-23
SITUATION AT
THE VATICAN

POPE Plus x IS VERY WEAK AND
THE CONVICTION GROWS
END IS NEAR
Indications Point to His Successor
Being Chosen From Among the
Italian Cardinals Of Whom Rampolla
Seems the Favorite.
ROME. Aug. 23.-That Pope Plus x
cannot last much longer is becoming a
matter of conviction in all quarters.
AS a consequence the possibility OF
the iminent conclave is in the thoughts
of all persons connected with the
Vatican, though there is not the
slightest sign yet Of canvassing or In
trigue among the cardinals for the
chair of St. Peter. Nevertheless prog
nostications as to the possible sue
cessor to the presen Pontif are being
made.
The sacred college has now only
forty-nine members, twenty-e1ght ltal'
ians an twenty-one foreigners. The
Italian majority is strong In number.
but it is stronger still in influence.
Nearly all of the Italian cardinals re-
side in Rome and direct all the affairs
of the Papacy. AS heads OF congre--
cations they have the power exercised
elsewhere by cabinet ministers. Their
views are carried out by Italian subor-
dinates. All the Papal nunctos are
Italian, depending from an Italian Car
dinal secretary Of state. The majority
of the Vatican officials are Italian,
from the high chamberlain Of the apos-
tolic palace to the lowest mental en-
ployed about the premises. All these
people with their influence, which Is
strong, have nothing to gain and ev'
erything to lose from foreign success
sor to Plus <.
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 its express
sion in favor of Cardinal Rampolla as
successor to Pope Plus K. Cardinal
Rampolla came near being success
full candidate in 1903 when the present
Pope was chosen. It may be assumed
that the Cardinals who voted for him
at the last conclave will do so again,
while it is we'll known that many of
his former adversaries are now his
supporters. Plus x himself Is report
ed to have said that he felt that his
successor should be Leo XIV, thus
clearly designating Rampolla, whose
policy would have been a continuation
of that Of Leo XIII.
The election of Rambolla at the last
conclave was prevented only by Aus
tria's veto. There will be no men,
ton of a veto in the next conclave, for
one of the first acts of Pope Piux x,
was the PRONUNCIATION of constitu-
ton abolishing the veto power of Aus
tria, Spain and France in the Papal
elections and prohibiting Cardinals
under the pain of accommodation
from receiving even in the form OF a
simple desire any demand for their
good Offices in presenting a veto or
making 1t known in the conclave re-
gardless Of whatever manner 1t 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 q 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 Capran-
lea and the Academy of the Noble
Ecclesiastics in Rome, and in 1875
became attached to the nunicature
at Madrid.
In 1877 he became secretary of the
congregation of Oriental Rites. In
1882 he was created titular Archbish-
op of St. Heracles and sent to Spain
as nuncio. He was created and pro-
claimed Cardinal March IA, 1887, TAX
ing title from the church Of st. Geo.
lila, and few months later was nam
ed secretary of state. Since the
death of his former chief, Pope Leo
KILL, he has lived a retired life, re-
stricting his activities almost exclu-
SAtOIy " Ills uuLACS do AcdO VIASSI VI
St. Peters.
The distinguished family connec-
lions 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 ability. He has writ
ten the best works extant upon the
traditions of the Greek church, and
upon the infallibilitya Of the Pope,
and he is the author of notable VOL
ume on the historical accuracy of the
story of the Maccabees.
Another advantage possessed by
the Cardinal as candidate for the
chair of St. Peter is his partician an
cestry, for it is tradition of the
church that the Pope should be man
of partician birth.
Rampolla's views are quite as liber-
al as those of any of the hierarchy and
he has often expressed warm admira'
ton for Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop |
Ireland and other members of the lib