Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-05-17
'POPE'S DEATH
sMAY OCCURS00N
PROBLEM OF CHOOSING HIS sue.
CESSOR is BEGINNING TO AGI-
TATE THE CHURCH CIRCLES. SEV
ERAL NAMES MENTIONED.
CARDINAL MERRY DEL VAL is
SUPPOSED TO BE SEEKING THE
HONOR AND MAY BE CHOSEN BY
THE CARDINALS.

tSUtCtUt W l"t
Rome, May 15.-Though Pope Plus has
so far recovered from his recent critical
illness as to enable him to receive sew
pral Cardinals in audience today. in ad
dition to devOting a considerable part
of his wOrk-day to matters referred to
him by Merry del Val, the fact is gen
orally recognized that the aged POntiff
has lost so much ground as to make the
matter of his death an event to be eX-
pected at any time. This condition has
very naturally served to crystalize the
issues and the question of the candidates
about which will center the selection of
the next Pope.
In the situation three important mo
Itives viii largely dictate the choice of
the next Holy Father. First there will
be the strong element of personality. sec
md the settlement Of the church's rcligi-
GUS policy and third the element of the
2chuch's future political attitude. That
1.-THE personal element will be the strong
est seems a certainty.
No secret is now made of the fact that
1.-The recent illness of tht Pope has brought
a definite focus opposition largely
among the older members Of the Sacred
College to Merry del Val and his pol
icies. This ~unpopularity dates back to the
line when Merry del Val was created
Cardinal secretary of state, a position
rarely if ever occupied by a foreign Car
linal or by any other han a Cardinal
grown gray in the diplomatic service of
he Vatican.
The smOuldering %antagonism burst into
pen fame during the Pope's recent i'll
ness. when Merry del Val exercised al
most dictatorial powers. refused to let
the other Cardinals visit the sick cham
Der and took largely into his own hands
the pOntifical responsibilities.
Still only As years of age. Merry del
Val would ordinarily be barred by his
age alone. from being seriously consid-
cred a papal candidate. But he is a
shrewd man at the height of his powers
\ man of unusual ability with a genius
Mfor politics and diplomacy and a con
Asuming ambition to be Pope. He will en-
Enter the cOnsistory assured Of a good fol
allowing on the first ballot and with a
determination to either secure the high
bficc himself or force the choice of some
tIOther Cardinal who will retain him in
1his present position as Cardinal secre-
Itary of state.
At the same time there will also enter
ithe conclaves as avowed candidate for
the Papacy. Cardinal Rompolla- former
|. secretary of state under Pope Leo MI.
and who but for the veto exercised on
Nbehalf of the Emperor of Austria would
Rhavc been the choice of the last election.
Cardinal RompOlla will oppose any pol
i icy of Merry del Val and about these
two men-undoubtedly the most f~orceful
and resOurceful in the Sacred College
4 will enter a bitter contest.
Without question Cardinal del Val
: failing of election himself. will strive for
/, the selection of Cardinal De Lai. The lat
: ter has been entrusted for the past nine
years with CARRYING out all the religious
reforms of Pope Plus Y. Cardinal De Lai
Merry del Val and Cardinal Wives y
Tuto, a Spanish monk and theologian
who exercises a deep influence over Pope
Plus Y, are popularity supposed to form
q tr;umvirate which is the chief influ
snce in the formation of the policies of
Pope Plus Y.