The Washington herald., 1913-12-21
RAMPoILA's DEATH REDUCES
COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
TO FIFTY-TWo MEMBERS

The College OF Cardinals, the supreme
administrative and spiritual body Of the
Catholic Church, Is now reduced to fifty
two members. II the college had Its full
number-which it never does-it would
have seventy members, after the number
of Christ's disciples, as chronicled at one
period OF His ministry. The venera-
BILE Cardinal Oregila, just deceased, was
the camerlengo, and as such had twice
acted as Pope, viz, between the death
Of Plus TX and the election of Leo XIII
and between the death OF Leo XIII and
the election OF Plus X With the death
of Cardinal Rampolla, there are ifty-two
cardinals. Italians number thirty-two
and ali others twenty-five. The early
consistory to be held will. II is said, in
crease the membership to sixty-three or
sixty-five. German, Austrian, and Span
ish interests, as well as two great re-
ligious orders, demand representation in
the college.
While Cardinal Gibbons, Of Baltimore, is
well in the senior rank OF college member
ship; both in age and date OF elevation.
yet he IL by no means the oldest, nor does
he stand the slightest chance OF being
made dean Of the college and camerlengo.
in age and Cardinal Netto two years in
elevation to the college The dean must
be a member of the curia, or central ad-
ministrative body Of the church. and as
such resident In Rome. AS camerlengo
he Immediately becomes acting pope upon
the death Of the pontif. Moreover, from
time immemorial he has been an italian.
For all OF these reasons II is easily seen
that q nonresident and an American can
~, y Ia 1aov
and camerlengo Is Cardinal De Lai, HIM
self a possible next pope-if present poll
cies Of the Vatican have Endorsement by
action OF the next conclave.
Roman Catholics in America doubt the
report from Rome that Pope Plus X has
expressed a purpose formally to disavow
further pretensions to temporal power,
and acknowledge himself subject Of
the King of Italy. Because OF political
complications, he cannot become subject
OF any other civil ruler, and for religious
reasons It Is not believed in America that
he will become subject of an italian one.
A little more than fifty years ago, when
italian troops interferred by investing
Rome itself, the Catholic Church was
preparing to promulgate the doctrine OF
papal temporal power as an article Of
faith, to be accepted by Catholics
throughout the world. Plus Y Is a con-
servative, he is nearly ninety years OF
age, he has constantly put forward ir
the curia men OF the conservative type
like Cardinals De Laf and Merry del
Val, and he has scrupulously observed
the tradition that he is prisoner in the
Vatican and cannot step outside OF II, |
even to return to his beloved Venice
That at his age, and without agitation |
IN the curia, he should now disavow what
N.NA - ~ NI.rrw, h
Is not regarded as likely. Nor will his sue
cessor, unless present Vatican policies |
should be reversed. Progressives like Car
dinal Nam, of Pisa, and Cardinal Fer
rata, OF Milan, and possibly like the late
Cardinal Capecetatro, have more and
more approached the italian royal family /
and the Italian government. and yet
have more and more held the confidence
Of the Vatican. These are the only straws
so far as American Catholics are aware.
that could give color to present reports
They are, however, a long way from re-
pudiation Of claims to temporal power,
acceptance Of the SS65, 700 year from the
Italian government for the support Of the
and the pope becoming an Ital-
ian political subject.
An event took place a few days ago
IN Virginia which is of interest for sew
sral reasons. The scene was Seven
Pines, a place too obscure and small to
be noticed by most Biographies, but Of
Importance for the reason that 1t Is the
place where two engagements took
place In the civil war, the battles of
Seven Pines ano Fair Oaks The oc-
,asion was the dedication Of a Catholic
church, which had been erected as
to the dead Of both armies
who perished there and in other con-
iicts in the immediate vicinity Of Rich
nond. The officiating prelate was
Confederate soldier, Bishop BENJAMIN J.
Siely. The preacher was Very Rev.
Walter Elliott, superior Of the Apostolic
Mission House, Washington, who wore
he blue uniform during the conflict,
ought almost on the spot where the i
.hurch stands and was at one time II
prisoner of war on Belle Isle. A third
Rev. Valentine ]. II
pastor Of ST. Jossph's Church, Ii
also assisted IN the cere- ,
=