The Washington herald., 1913-01-05
BISHOP KENNEDY LIKELY
TO BE NAMED CARDINAL
News of the Roman Churches Here and
Abroad-Pope Plus More Hope
full of Catholic AFairs.

Roman Catholic clergymen in Philadel-
phia and members of the laity in touch
with diocesan affairs are reported to be
expecting an early announcement from
Rome of the selection of Bishop Thorn
as +. Kennedy, rector Of the American
College at Rome. 10 be a cardinal The
bishop is now on his annual Christmas
visit to his parents in Conshohocken He
celebrated pontificial mass in the Church
OF ST. John the Evangelist. IN Thirteenth
Street. above Chestnut, In the presence
Of Archbishop Prendergsst and a num-
Der Of priests.
The expectation is that Pope Plus will
name Bishop Kennedy a cardinal in the
cuf1a- There Is now no American rep
resentative in the curia- which is vir-
tually the ruling power of the Roman
Catholic Church under the direction OF
the Pope. While the four American car
dinals are. of course. members of the
College OF Cardinals, and have a vote
each in the selection OF Pope, they do
not hold seats In the curia
Bishop Kennedy has been rector of the
American College for more than ten
years. He has held that office longer
than any other rector. There was time
when six years was the maximum
length of service in the rectorship. and
the fact that Bishop Kennedy has al
ready served such an extended term has
been due entirely to the desire of Pope
Plus to keep the bishop in as close touch
as possible with American affairs at
Rome.
1t is generally conceded that Bishop
Kennedy knows more about American
conditions as they affect the pontincial
see than any Catholic ecclesiastic in
Rome. He is close to Pope Plus and
1t Is known that the counsel of Bishop
Kennedy is almost always sought by the
Vatican when there is under discussion
any question relating to American af-
fairs. Because of this knowledge Il is
conceded that the II me Is anxious To
have Bishop Kennedy devote as much
the problems of this country at the Vat
lean.
Catholic Church affairs in America and
in Europe are for the most part much
improved over their condition at the be-
ginning OF 1872 In America of course.
there is nothing but steady growth. The
creation Of two additional American car
dinals Just year ago has much
strengthened Catholic affairs in America.
while the growing influence of leaders
like the Archbishops of Chicago, 81.
Louis, and San Francisco help Catholic
interests beyond the provinces of the
cardinals. whose official influence Is lin
tied to the provinces of Boston. New
York, and Baltimore.
In Catholic finances the two notable
things OF the year in America were the
greatly improved affairs of the Catholic
University, at Washington, and the large
increase in missionary giving by Catho-
lies of the province of New York. The
university opened one large memorial
building, and has others in prospect.
America now furnishes, in New York.
the largest giver to Catholic world mis-
sions Of any province outside of France.
The better relations OF the Vatican and
France, and the prospect of early diplo-
matte relations, are the hopeful features
Of the Catholic Church in Europe. The
ending. OF the war between Turkey and
Italy. and the larger field Of Lydia give
the church new visions. In Vienna aud
Paris, the building of new Catholic
churches has gone on with vigor. 1t Is
an odd fact that Catholics In American
cities have been better provided with
churches than in these older cities. In
the whole hierarchy is in pro-
cess of remaking. so great has been
Catholic growth there. The Pope, now
In his seventy-eighth year. is remark
ably vigorous. and he is carrying ON
reforms In administrative methods that
will make his pontificate memorable. The
year 1912 has seen progress in many OF
.hese reforms. Not in yeavs have utter
ances of the Pope OF Rome, and Of his
OF state. been in more hope
full tone than now.