El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-26

Pope Plus x entered on June upon
his nth year. From Rome come.
through private channels, talk OF
conclave and a new pope. Indeed, the
predictions of a consistory, so often
dashed during the last three years
since none were held, have given place
to predictions Of new election Tor
chief occupant OF the vatican. The
number of cardinals in the Sacred col
lege is reduced by death to 49, the
lowest In centuries, but talk OF new
elevations to the college gives way TO
mention of names of italian members
who may succeed Pope Plus x
In some quarters it seems to be as
suned that cardinal Rampolia, at one
time pontifical secretary of state, ana
now for more than a decade arch or
head priest of St Peters, will De
chosen in the next conclave. 1t will be
remembered that in all probability ne
would now be pope but for the polltlcal
Intervention of Austria during the last
conclave which Intervention orougnt
about the election Of the patriarch OF
Venice. Advices from well Informed
sources are to the effect that there IS
no certainty on this point Condiuons
have wholly changed in 10 years
at the last conc1ave cardinals Gottl'
the Vannutelli brothers and Svampa,
of Bologna, at one time considered by
many certain Of election to the papacy,
figured in the papal predictions NO
newspaper art department in Europe
or America thought Of wasting DAY
without having their photographs at
hand. Now through age they are, ID
all likelihood, wholly out OF the run
ming. While the Catholic church mas
ever been conducted by the mature
81 30 Nd Un6n
in conclave to elect one among their
number who has a decade or so ahead
of him. that the church may not be
disturbed again almost at once, ana
that the new pope may have years IN
which TO put a policy into effect.
On the 18th Of the approaching Au-
gust cardinal Rampolla will be 90, put
that age might not bar him. Inc
younger of the Vannutellis, Vincent
who is fairly well known in this couh-
try through his several visits, is 7S, and
the elder. Serafino, is two years his
senior. Cardinal Gotti. the famous
Carmelite whom everybody loves. Is
well in the seventies. and cardinal
Svampa. in his day daring and pro-
pressive beyond almost any italian
cardinal of recent centuries, is dead.
Is Limited TO Italians
Selection is, of course, limited 10
Italians There is no written law 10
that effect. but there is an unwritten
one and relations with the italian
government present and possible,
probably make It essential that none
save an Italian be chosen, even did
Catholic tradition not do so. The field
Is an open one for italian cardinals,
with six or eight names in the pubic
mind Of well informed Catholic circles.
francesca Cardinal Casetta will be
10 in August next, but he Is so mucn
a part OF the administration, and
stands so high in family, that ms age
may not prove a barrier to advance
men. He Is one of the five cardinal
hishoDs. those who administer the
suburban sees Of Rome itself. He comes
of q noble Italian family, and is him
self loval to Pope Plus x as he was
IN none Leo XIII, but he has relatives
who are prominent in political affairs.
and are supporters Of the present ltallah
king. He was born in Rome. almost
the only cardinal now IN the coliege
who was born there. and educated AT
The College Capranica, and the
Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics. Dur
ing his earlier years he was attached
TO ST. John Lateran. He was created
titular bishop of Amata In 1884. arch
bishop of Eicomedi in 1887. and patri-
arch Of Antioch in 1890. He was Gre
ated cardinal in one Of the last cen
sistories held by Pope Leo XIII
Ferrata a Possibility.
Domencio Cardinal Ferrata. mucn
Younger than cardinal Casseta, is real
" one of the men who may be CHOSEN
at the next conclave. He is only "a,
spIendidly preserved, vigorous end
handsome, popular and entering heart
iIv into the affairs of the Curia. or the
body of the Catholic
church. He was born at Gradola, anc
was educated at the Jesuit college at
orrietta. He began as professor Of 1he-
ology In the College of Propaganda,
and rose to be president for the
Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics. sue
ceeding the late cardinal Satoli in the
latter position, when that prelase. not
then a member of the Sacred college,
came to Washington as papal delegate.
He was made titular archbishop OF
and sent as nuncfo at
Brussels, and q little later the same
at Paris. He was created cardinal In
1895. If he proves to be the next pope
II Is said he will have a definite ard
perhaps vigorous policy Names Of
other cardinals are mentioned in view
Of a possible conclave, but none with
more earnestness by their friends than
tEs+ of cardinal Ferrdta