The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-20
POPE Plus ILLNESS
SUGGESTS NAMES
FOR HIS SUCCESSOR

The steadily failing health of Pope
Plus y revives speculation over. the suc-
cession. 1t seems to be common opin-
ion that no Pope of recent times has
neared his end with his church more
free. in it's supreme counsels. from per-
sonal chickering's The present Pope has
found himself compelled to deal with
some of the most momentOus problems
that any Pope has been called upon to
solve. but either from his tact or from
conditions of the times has so handled
them that it seems more than probable
that a successor can be named from
among his friends who will be able to
continue his policies. Often it has hap
pened that close friends of late Popes
sharing in some measure in the shaping
of policies, stood small chance of cleo
ton in the conclave because of that
friendship.
Owing to present good temper through
out the church. the most likely cardinal
to be elected supreme pontiff, If a con-
clave come on any date at all near. IS
Catejafl Cardinal De Lai. He is a native
of small town just outside of Venice,
but the friendship now existing between
the Pope and him does not grow out
Of old acquaintance with the Patriarch
of Venice. Cardinal De Lai was a busi-
ness man until fairly late in life, and
after the latter became chief occupant
Of the Vatican. He was created cardinal
by Pope PLUCK only as late as 1907. and
that only a cardinal deacon, or lowest
rank of all. Because of his peculiar
ability he was made secretary of the
Consistorial Congregation, with the Pope
for its head, which appoints the bishops
throughout the Catholic world
1t was while serving in this position
that the ability of Cardinal De Lai came
to the notice OF Pope Plus Y in stronger
form than before. and red to close per-
sonal relationship between the two prel-
ates. including the marked identification
OF the cardinal with the Pope's policies.
Very rapid advancement for De Lai fol-
lowed, until now, going over the rank Of
all save one or two cardinals, including
Cardinals Gibbons, Rampolla, GOTH
OConnell, and Merry del Val, he is
cardinal bishop and assigned to charge
of one Of the suburban sees of Rome
He has the advantage OF youth-for a
cardinal-being only fifty-nine. When the
conclave is held. il the present Pope's
policies are voted to be continued, Car
dinal De Lai is we'll in the lead as the
person to continue them.
Cardinal Rampolla, the giant in intel
lect and influence in the Sacred College
and head priest of st. Peters Cathedral
Is now well advanced in years and quite
unlikely to be elected supreme pontiff.
He IS seventy years of age, and few
Catholic Popes have been chosen who
were past seventy when the conclave as
sembled. For a long time after Plus
Y came to the chair Rampolla lived an
exceedingly quiet life. Within the past
three or four years he mas been more
active, but his activity has always been
loyal to Plus. Whatever he has said
or written has been well in line with
Vatican policies. He is in excellent IA
vor with Plus X. and might be chosen
instead of de Lai were 1t not for his
years.
Beyond these two prelates it is idle to
speculate about the vannutellis, the two
brothers Of the name; Gotti, or even
Richelmy or Gennari. All are far adj
vanced In years Even the younger Van
nutelli will be seventy-seven next De-
cember. II less prominent prelate be
chosen, the two men thought to be most
likely to get the tiara are Cardinal Cas-
parri the great canonist Of the church
at the moment. and now at the head of
the revision Of the Catholic laws, and
Cardinal Mafi1. Archbishop of Pisa. The
first named will be sixty-one years of
age in Nay next, and the latter fifty
ceedingly popular. but he is progressive
in the sense that he believes that in
some measure, at least, present political
conditions in Italy must be accepted and
made the best of. That is not equiva-
lent to saying he abandons the plea of
papal temporal power. No one who did
that would stand any chance in the con-
clave. What Is meant is that he is more
on these lines than are some.
All talk of Cardinal Falconio, who is
an italian cardinal, and rs counted in
the thirty-three Italians in the college,
even if a naturalized American citizen.
is as idle as to talk of the election of
Cardinals Gibbons or Bourne. or Merry
del Val, or any other foreigner. The
next Pope will be an Italian. With the
death Of many others, including Cardinal
who has just gone, the VEN
cradle Cardinal Oreslia lives on. He 10
the dean of the college, and the only
cardinal remaining who was created by
Pope Plus TX. He will be eighty three
years of age In July. He has been twice
acting Pope, or camerlengo. and bids
fair to be such for third time since
he is in excellent health. while Piux X
is not.
A recent cablegram announced, that the
al
Adolfo Alexandra Nouel, who |
is also primate of South America, had
his political Office because of |
i'll health. Archbishop Nouel was elected
head of the republic on December 8, 1912, |
for two years by unanimous vote He |
was chosen because Of his stanch pa
triotism and for the reason that he was
the only man on whom the different fac
tons could agree to succeed President
Victoria, who resigned in his favor. He |
the Office by special permission
Of Pope Plus.
Archbishop Nouel is fifty years old. He i
was consecrated archbishop on October |
l6, 1904, by Cardinal Merry del Val, the |
present papal secretary of state, of |
whom he was a classmate in college He
Is an intimate friend of Cardinal Farley. I
Of New York, from whom he received |
the episcopal ring of his Office He is |
Of Spanish descent, but IL a blond, an |
uncommon thing among people of has |
blood. In the Republic of Santo Domingo |
the Catholic religion is the state religion. |
but freedom Of worship is granted to al
sects. It's total population is $4,000 The
Catholics number about 100000 and are
all under the jurisdiction of Archbishop
Nouel
Apropos Of the election Of Archbishop