The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-22
Election and Grooming of a Pope

The method by which a successor to
Pope Plus Y will be chosen is fixed by
a congratulated custom.
The Sacred College OF Cardinals will
meet shortly at the Vatican, and by bal
lot will select the next Pope. Several
ballots may have to be taken, and the
balloting may continue for several days.
Meantime, the Sacred College will be
the supreme power in the church.
At the time that Pope Piux X was
elected, the cardinals took successive
ballots for four days before it was posi-
bic for any one candidate to get the
necessary two-thirds vote.
On August /, 1903, the Sacred College Of
Cardinals went into session. Cardinal
RampolIa and Cardinal serahno Vannu-
tell at the start were the leading candi-
dates. The first ballot was between Van
nutelli and Rampolla, with the latter
slightly in the lead. Cardinal Sarto, the
Patriarch of Venice, who subsequently
became Pope Plus Y, received only four
votes on this ballot. Sarto gradually
gained, however, during the balloting Of
the succeeding days, until on August
has vote had increased to ffty-seven,
within six OF the necessary two-thirds.
When this vote was announced Cardi-
nal Sarto broke down Tears coursed
down his cheeks and he insisted that the
honor was too great for him. The cardi-
mails spent most of the night trying to
convince Cardinal Sarto that It was the
will OF God that he should be the next
Pope. On the next day Cardinal Sarto
was elected on the first ballot. Cardinal
Casetta- as scrutineer, read the vote.
When he reached the forty-second vote
for Sarto, he announced, lifting his red
the cardinals cried Continue" When
the vote reached fifty for Sarto. the
cardinals crowded about the Patriarch
of Venice, who was near a state Of COL
lapse, and acclaimed him the new pontifI.
According TO the ancient custom they
demanded to know If he would accept.
With trembling lips Cardinal sarto re-
piled:
IF this cup cannot pass from me-"
Yes or no." cried the Cardinals.
You must answer yes, or no."
Il accept" said the cardinal quietly.
Whereupon all OF the Cardinals re-
moved their baldachins, Sarto's being
the only one remaining, thus marking
him their supreme head. The temper
airy supremacy Of the Sacred College of
Cardinals had passed and the new Pom
tiff had come into power
The cardinals scrutineer proclaimed
the election of Cardinal Sarto, and then
the secretary of the conclave and the |
marshal OF the conclave were summon
ed. The marshal of the conclave drew
up the official act of the election OF the |
Pope while the pontiff stepped into an !
to don his white robes OF Of |
flee.
Reappearing, CARRIED in the official |
the PontIff was again re-
ceived by the cardinals and escorted to |
the throne. In the procession on the !
way he stopped for a moment to drop !
his cardinals red hat upon the head |
Mgr. Merry del Val. thus signifying that |
shortly thereafter Merry del Val was to |
become a cardinal Subsequently Merry |
del Val became papal Secretary OF State. |
Then, with the cardinals standing about |
him, Pope Plus X took his seat on the |
throne, and the cardinals gave him their |
first Obedience" In this ceremony each |
cardinal in turn kissed his hand and foot, |
while he saluted each of them on the |
cheek with the kiss Of peace. After that |
he gave them all the papal blessing.
The actual browning Of the Pope does |
not take place, as a rule, until several
days after his election. 1t Is a most mag
nificent ceremony, and takes place in the |
gigantic Basilica of st. Peters, where /
1000 persons saw the last Inauguration.
1t is attended by the princes and digni- |
taIlt6 VI lnc CIluTGElt ptslues al inc /
mobiles and diplomats in Rome. The dean /
Of the cardinal deacons places the triple |
crown upon the head Of the Pope. where
upon the choir intones a hymn Of triumph /
and the bells OF Rome ring out.
Seated Upon Throne.
When the crown is placed upon his |
head the Pope is seated upon the papal /
throne. a marvellous combination of gold |
and silver erected before the high altar. I
On the altar, which Is dressed in white. |
stands the famous silver candlesticks Of |
St Peters and q magnificent crucifix.
Bells Of Rome ringing early on the day
Of the GROWING announce the opening
Of the doors OF the Baslliea. The Pope.
on arising. Is dressed by the cardinals,
and the papal procession to escort him
rom the Vatican TO St Peters Is formed.
This procession numbers about 800 Over
ne Ponttrs head = canopy Y he'd hy !.