The Detroit times., 1911-11-25
INFLUX OF CARDINALS
SHOWS POPE WANTS
CONSERVATIVE SUCCESSOR
Pontiff Believes Modernist
Would Injure Church, Says
Student of Vatican Affairs.
RAMPOLLA IN THE LEAD.
Many Believe He Is Best Fitted
To Occupy Office Should
Death Take Plus.
RAMPOLLA IN THE LEAD.
BY cAMlLLo cIANFARRA.

ROME, Nov. 25.-To appreciate
fully the Importance of the Pope's sud
den decision TO fiji the many yacan-
cies long existing In the sacred col
lege, IL must be kept In mind that this
is the jubilee year of Italian unity
and that as such 1t has an implicit
anti-vatican character. Last March, 1t
was officially announced that during
1911 the vatican would in every way
abstain from public functions which
would be construed as counter demon
strations to the Italian celebration.
The idea of holding a consistory was
regarded as absurd.
Towards the end of July the news
spread that the Pope was dangerous
ly ILL., For days his life was despaired
OF. Up to that time the Pope would
smilingly say that there we're already
enough cardinals TO make all the
trouble he was capable of standing,
chiefly alluding TO Cardinal Del Val,
secretary of state, and Cardinal De
Lai, leader of the Rampolla opposi-
ton party.
Besides, his policy of retrenchment
and economy did not allow Of new ex-
penses. 1t is we'll known that the vat
lean finances are not In fiourishing
condition, and that for years the
church revenues have been steadily
diminishing. At the last conclave Car.
dinal Gibbons, with his fine American
business sense, urged thorough cur
tailment of vatican expenses, but the
Curia cardinals refused to submit TO
the foreign members of the sacred col
lege a detailed statement OF affairs.
Plus X had never entertained any
doubt as to mis- ability to emulate Leo
XIII, who died in his ninety-third
year. Last summers severe attack was
to him a complete revelation. Then
the danger of a conclave with only
As cardinals was brought, with al due
tact, to his attention. Following q
long and frank consultation with DR..
Mazonni the. Pope announced his de-
cision to hold q consistory. 1t Is said
that Mazzoni told the Pope that he
was suffering from complication oil
diseases, any one of which might prove
fatal in case he. caught cold.
The fight against modernism has rid
the church of that ultar-radical ele-
ment whose heterodoxy was a per-
manent menace to its dogmatic integ-
rity, but on the other hand, is be-
Iieved by many to have reduced TO
silence for the present many enlight-
ened minds who have always worked
for the best interest of the church.
Rampolla is with the latter. Dur
ing the eight years Of Plus KS pom
tificate he has openly refraiped from
identifying himself with the reaction
airy element.
Plus Y. firmly believes diplo-
matte, progressive Pope will be detri-
mental to the church, and has clearly
endeavored to ward off this danger
But he has hardly succeeded. The
many powerful influences at work in
favor of various candidates, the ap-
pointments deemed expedient to
strengthen the church here and there
have somewhat frustrated the Popes
efforts.
We find in the list such reaction
aries as Billot, DuOllliards Dechabrire,
Lugari Pompil and others, together
with such well known liberals as
Bourne, archbishop of Westminster;
Farley, archbishop of New York;
O'Connor, archbishop of Boston; Am
ette of Paris; Nagle, Bauer, Falconio,
Bisleti and Belmonte.
Rampola remains the most power
full candidate, and many believe the
only one who could restore harmony
and remedy the diplomatic defeats
the vatican chancery has sulHained in
dealing with European governments.