The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-03-29
HOW THE COLLEGE
OF CARDINALS ELECT
Impressive Scene When Sacred
College Meets to Elect Head
of Church on Earth.
The Ceremony of the Conservation
Goes Back to the Ninth
Century.
A Two-Thirds Vote of the Conclave
Necessary to Elect
a Pope.

Tho largest conclavc in the history
Of the Roman Catholic Church as
scmblcd In tho Vatican on July 81,
1908, to elect a successor to Pope Leo
XIIl. and tho ancient forms and cere-
monies were followed. An account OF
it will give an accurate idea Of the
manner in which Il Pope is chosen.
Tho mass of the Holy Ghost was
celebrated at 10 o'clock in tho Paul
inc Chapel by Cardinal Vannutelli. all
the other Cardinals being present.
Tho tenth congregation followed at
11:A5. Cardinal Origlia distributed
silver medals, issued as insignia OF
tho temporal power during tho inter-
regnum.
The Cardinals then went to their
homes for the last timo before the
meeting Of tho conclave, and rcas
scmbled in the Pauline Chapel at 4:3o
p. H., preliminary to their entrance
into tho sealed quarters. The as
StIIDttu tilt dtLCluStiil
priests sang, many Of them with
voices which wero thin and quavering.
"Comc. Holy Ghost" .....
A procession was formed at 5 o'clock
and the members of the Sacred Col
lege marched slowly through the roy
al halls Cardinal Orcglia led the pro-
for i,,n1 M 1.,J
by n member of the Noble Guard. his
chaplain and Il servant.
The procession stopped first at the
Sistine Chapel for final prayers. Then
a. member Of the Noble Guard escorted
each Cardinal to his cell. bade him
farewell and expressed the hope that
he would next see him on the throne
of st. Peter. Each Cardinal respond
cd according to custom that the guard
was entitled to ask him for two fay
ors.
1t was not until o'clock, after the
final "cxcunt omncs,'' the marshal
having taken the oath to protect the
Sacred College in the performance OF
its greatest duty, that the ceremony
of closing up the door and sealing up
the conclavn was literally carried out.
Genuine walls of masonry had been
built across all the doors and pas
sagcs. Tho quarters. however, were
not so primitive as in ancient times.
Each Cardinal had comfortable,
plainly furnished bedroom and sitting
room. All telephones were taken out
and all wires cut.
1t was an impressive scene when
the members of tho Sacred College
entered the Sistine Chapel two by two,
each walking slowly to his canopied
seat or throne. The chapel had been
transformed since it was last used.
On the altar a vast arras. represent
ing the descent of the Holy Ghost, had
been placed. A. chair in front was to
remain empty until the new Pontiff
was there to receive the first submis-
sion Of his former colleagues. In the
center Of the chapel was a large COW
cred table bearing two vases and one
! large covered chalice for the recep-
| tion of ballots. Before each Cardin.
ais throne was a small table with ink,
paper and sealing wax.
TO the left OF the entrance was
stove with the pipe leading out of u
window. In this stove the unsuccess-
| full ballots were to be burned with
| damp straw. The escaping black
! smoke would signify to the outside
watchers that no choice had been
made. When the decisive ballot had
been taken the papers would be burn
! ed with dry straw and the light smoke
would indicate that a pope had been
elected and that his election would
soon be announced in the customary
| manner.
! When the cardinals were seated
Mgr. Merry del Val, secretary Of the
conclave, read the apostolic oath, the
cardinals repeating it after him. He
then carried the Gospel to each prel-
ate in turn that he might seal the oath
with his lips. When Cardinal Oreglia
! di Santo Stefano, camerlengo and
president Of the conclave, was sworn
le in turn administered the oath to
a n L