The Washington herald., 1914-01-04
HIGH HONOR FOR
BOSTON PRELA7E
Cardinal O'Connen Said to
Be Picked for Arch
priestship.
HELD IN HIGH REGARD
DisaPpearanee Of the RanpolIa win
Has Caused Much Debate a
to Probable Outcome.
HELD In HIGH REGARD
Special Cable to The Washington Herald

Special Cable to The Washington HersId
Rome, Jan. 3-According to those high
In the condolences Of church circles in
the Eternal City, william Cardinal
oconnell. Archbishop of Boston, win
ultimately succeed the late Cardinal
Rampolla as archpriest of ST. Peters.
Incidentally. the rumor of honors in
store for the noted American preIats il
received with the expression of warmess
approval here.
Regarding the possible call to ST.
Peters. the impression prevails in Cath
olic circles that the Boston cardinal can
have the post IL he so chooses and thus
take prominent place among the curia.
or court OF cardinals. Catholic circles
are also inclined to believe that the fu-
ture holds great honors for his emil
nence.
According to time-honored tradition,
the office Of archpriest of the greatest
temple in Christendom is always reserved
for the papat secretary OF state. On the
day following the election of a new Pope.
he leaves the states chancery and takes
his place among the administration car
dinals. and according to this theory the
office would eventually go to Cardinal
Merry Del Val.
-
The fact that Cardinal O'Connelrs
name has been mentioned means very
likely. that Cardinal Merry Del Val has
declined the offer. suggesting that his old
and intimate friend O'Conneli be called to
Rome as custodian Of the great Basilica.
Local students of church politics also
seem inclined to believe, whether the Of
fer has been accepted or declined, that
there is more behind Cardinal Merry Del
Vafs action than appears on the surface.
Since the so-called Milan social week.
adjourned. both the religious and lay
press OF Italy have continued the debate
opened by Archbishop of Undine's
speech on a possible solution of the
Roman question as applied to the OUR
inaL
Some papers even declared the question
will have 20 be ultimately solved by a
Pope free frUm political bias-one born In
a country not belonging to any of the two
groups OF European alliances Now, 1t is
the highes, degree the qualifications nee
essary to solve such a great question Is
the Archbishop OF Boston.
Besides a thorough knowledge OF local
conditions acquired during his many
years in Rome. both as a student and az
rector or the American College IN Rome,
Cardinal OConnell is also regarded as a
scholar and man possessed OF almost
unparalleled executive power. II is saId
that he has distinguished himself in all
the offices he has ever held. First as
bisnop or Portland, Me, Cardinal O'Con-
nell attracted the Pope's attention. and
this resulted in promotion at the first
opportunity.
VIII Was Replaced.
His work in Boston and the interest
ne takes IN Roman affairs earned Tor MIN
the red hat at the Consistory OF 1911.
should ne return to Rome II win nEsrv
take him further. But will Cardinal
O'Connell quit Boston?
Returning to the topic Of Cardinal
Rampolla, although the mystery of the
of a second will attributed
TO His Eminence has been dissipated.
Monsignor Debisogne, treasurer of the
fabrics of St Peter, and other prelates
who were intimate with the dead Cardi-
nal still maintain that the Cardinals
first will dated in 1883 had been replaced
by one of a later date
This. they argue. for two reasons: first,
because Pope Leo XIII. who was the
chief beneficiary under the first will.
died before Cardinal Rampolla; second,
because the Cardinal was firmly deteru,fn-
ed to prevent his fortune from falling in
TO the hands OF his sister, the Duchess
of Campobello. or the duke. the nephew.
These prelates say the Cardinal often
declared his intention of leaving his
fortune to the dukes children, Vincent
and Mariana, or whom the Princess All
Iiteri is now the legal guardian.
Cardinals Wealth Great.
Cardinal Rampolla's adherence of the
Duke OF CampobeIIo was based on
ong chain OF scandals. which nad
in thA
had forged the Cardinals signature tn
several notes in order to raise money to
buy jewels for Vittorina LIE Panto. a
we'll known vaudeville actress with
whom he was then on the most intimate
erms.
The statements published regarding
he Cardinals actual fortune so rar raIt
nucn below the marx. AS a matter or
act, the Cardinal inherited from hi,
ather. Prince Del Tindare. nearly one
million Ira, while as archpriest of ~,
Peters and holder Of other important
'hurch Offices, he enjoyed an income OF
Tot less than 5000
One-half of this he devoted to charity
Is he was stern ascetic, never touch-
ng wine or any table luxuries This
cardinal also possessed a great quantity
u valuable jewels, trunksful being found
n his room after death. Many of these
reasures were presented to him DURING
lis tenure of ONCE as secretary Of state
lnder Pope Leo.
These treasures. consisting OF gold and
liver chalices, snufr boxes studded with
diamonds, and several episcopal rfngs.
'alued at nearly s1.oooooo. will go to his
econd sister II the missing Will Is noe
ound.
As for the disappearance of certain
iplomatic documents, many OF these are
Z absorbing interest. more particularly
nose dealing with the trials by Holy
,tfice OF the great modernists. George
'yrreIl. Lost Murr1. ana others. VINO
ince have been excommunicated from
he church.
CZAREVITCH has RELAPSE.