The Washington herald., 1914-05-10
foreigner MAY
SUCCEED Plus X
Italians Alarmed by Smallness
of Their Majority in Sa-
cred College.
MERRY DEL VAL IN LINE
Romans Realize Papal Secretary Could
Be Elected or Force Choosing of
O'Connell or Gasquet.
pecial Gable to III. Washington Herald.

Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
Rome, May s.-The announcement that
Pope Plus X contemplates the creation
Of two more Italian cardinals in order
to increase the present small italian
majority in the Sacred College has failed
to allay the fears of the conservative
element in the church. which has steadily
maintained that no foreigner can occupy
the throne of st. Peter.
The impression produced IN Catholic
circles by the creation Of thirteen new
cardinals, of whom only five are Italians.
is that the struggle between the foreign
and Italian element in the Sacred College
is slowly resolving itself into victory for
the former
Cardinal Merry Del Vars policy. tend
Ing to bring about a more direct partici-
patton of foreigners In both the compost
ton of the college and the central man.
agement of the church, Is believed at
last to have prevailed with the full con-
sent OF the Pontiff.
Dream May Come True.
Following the death Of Cardinal RAM
polla, the last OF the great cardinals.
who was regarded as the legitimate sue
cessor to Plus Y. and who commanded
the respect of the whole Sacred College.
the dream of the papal secretary OF
state. to give the Catholic church a
foreign" Pope. is about to come true.
II is, in fact. pointed out that just
now the italian majority in the college
OF cardinals Is only three or four votes.
and that the election of a foreign Pope
is more than likely. chiefly from the fact
that the Italians are not united. At the
same time. the new list of cardinals is
regarded here as a distinct victory for
Cardinal Merry Del Val. who Catholics
say. would not have dared to increase
further the number OF foreigners had
Cardinal Rampolla lived.
II is also pointed out that the English
speaking element Is now represented in
the sacred college as never before and
that for the first time. after many years
the church is again to have an English
curia cardinal in the person OF Dom
Gasquet, English head OF the Bene-
dictines. who. owing to his exceptional
intellectual attachments, Is destined to
become head Of some important congre-
cation and a prominent figure in the
Sacred College
Merry Del Val in Line.
In certain quarters the rumor also Is
revived that since the death OF Cardinal
Rampolla. Merry Del Val's ambitions
have become stronger than ever. and that
the increase in the number OF foreign
cardinals tends. above all. to pave the
way for his election to the throne of st.
Peter.
In connection with this it is remarked
that II was Del Val who induced the
Pope to summon to Rome Cardinal Van
Rossum, of Holland. and put him at the
head of large congregation. The con-
templated red hat to Don Gasquet is an
other wise move in this direction. With
the exception of Cardinals Ferrata and
Della Chiesa. the italian element has no
prominent candidate in the future con-
clave.
A majority of the Italians are either
too old or too humble to aspire to the
most exalted Office in the gift OF the
church. while the foreign element can
furnish list of candidates. the equal OF
whom. from the point of view OF re-
ligious culture and personal charm. could
only be found in the Sacred College OF
the late renaissance and Of the Leonine
Pontihcate.
italian CathoIc circles fully realize
this. They know that in the conclave OF
cardinals, GasqUet O'Connen Farley,
Van Rossum, and some OF the French
prelates would easily dominate the situ-
alton and that Del Val could easily be
elected or use his votes to make the cleo
ton of either O'Connell or Gasquet
certain.
Pope Weak and Tired.
Another thing is apparent Pope Plus
is weak and tired and no longer Is he
taking a direct interest in the political
end of the church's administration. Car
dinal Del Val's supporters today ara
holder- than ever and make no secret OF
the latter's ambition eventually to sue
coed Plus.
Recently the Countess Del Val has
opened a large apartment in Rome. osten-
sibly to he near her DISTINGUISHED son,
but. as a matter Of fact. to help him in
reaching the coveted goal. Her house is
becoming more and more the center of
Catholic social activity. The heads OF
foreign colleges and the personnel OF
foreign legations and embassies meet
there frequently. headed by foreign car
dinals. who are residing or visiting Rome.
and some Italians, who. like Delai and
Falconio. are known to be devoted to the
papal secretary of state.