The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-09
KEEN INTEREST IN
 POPE'S SUCCESSOR
The Supreme Pontiff Passes
 Seventy-Seventh Year
NOT BE AN AMERICAN
Next Pope Certain to Be an Italian. No Political Government Can Interpose Vetoes at Next
 Papal Election

Rome. June s.-(Special)-Pope Plus x has just passed his 77th birthday hale and cheerful with a pontifcate the world over that is peaceful and prosperous, es- pecially in America Discussion of his successor in the chair of St. Peter Is not heard beyond the ordinary but when the supreme pontif is advanced in years as is the present one there is invariable in- terest fin a situation into which con clave may come at any time The very passing of the birthday makes that inter est keen.
 There is a point about the succession that it is well for Americans to bear In mind Ii is that the next Pope Will not be one of their number. Nor will he be enc who speaks, as native of if. the Eng fish language Indeed the next Pope is certain to be an Italian. IL Is not to be denied that conditions in and around the Vatican are changing The Catholic church is more Catholic and less Roman than ever before in its long history One of the things Ii will celebrate next year, when will occur the one thousanth anni- versary of religious freedom for the church. will be its world wide character; world wide in It's views at it's center as well as universal in it's administration.
 A great body. especially religious one, is conservative, and thetime is not yet here to go outside of Italy to find new pontlff If the church were ready 10 go outside the Italian government is not yet ready to allow 1t to do so. The Cath ollie church is not wholly free in it's selection of supreme pontiff. Hence the agitation. not yet ended by any means, for the sovereignty of the Pope. The Vatican palace itself it must be re- membered, belongs to the Italian govern ment and 1t is exceedingly doubtful if that government would consent to its occupation as Pope of an American citi- zen an Englishman. certainly not of an Austrian a Frenchman or a Spanlard
 There are practical considerations which necessity compels to take account of American and English cardinals. of whom there are six who speak English as native tongue are not in close touch with the ruling forces of the church. since most of them are of but recent appointment and all reside long distances from the Eternal City. Precedence in the Sacred College Is of slow growth; perhaps the slowest of all great bodies. It Is there fore only men of years and of familiarity with conditions who can hope to rule, always excepting. of course. emergencies. Of the latter there are. however, none at hand.
 Another point which Americans must bear in mind concerning papal elections is the one that no cardinal seeks the honor of election to the chair In all religious bodies the sort of ambition that schemes is barred, but in none more rigid ly than in the Catholic church Indeed. the burden of the pontification is so great that most cardinals would avoid it.. Nearly all who ever take part in con- caves breath more freely when they are concluded and another is elected as Holy Father. The problem of what is to hap pen when the church grows through another 100 or even another 5o years is grave one. Will any person be able to carry the burden of being Pope?
 Stll another point to be borne in mind by all. Americans no more than others. i3 that when the next conclave Is held no political government will be able to interpose vetoes on the election of this or that man. The late Cardinal Puyzna of Cracow sinterposed objection and is supposed to have prevented Cardinal Rampola's election nine years ago, doing so it is stated at the behest of Italy and Austria. In tho naxt conelaye no ob- Jecticn can De sitered. A law made by