Las Vegas optic., 1914-08-27

TO the papal throne, abolished this
right of veto. so that it will play no
part in the proceedings OF the con-
clave next week
Compromise candidates have sever
al times been taken by general agree
ment, whenever the race between two
strong cardinals has been so close
as to deadlock the college.
Proceeding with the election by bal
lot, voting is continued on the lines
indicated until choice is reached.
and this is made known to the people
by the absence of the smoke, for al
though the ballots, as I'm the unsuc-
cessful instances, are also burned, the
smoke is not permitted to escape.
When the result is reached it is an
nounced by the ringing of a bell; all
the senior cardinals advance to the
place occupied by the newly chosen
pontiff and inquire if he accepts the
election. On receiving his affirma-
tive answer he is at once salutei by
Tie entire college. He then announc-
es the name by which he desires to
be known throughout the world as
the head of the church.
An interval then occurs during
which the canopies are removed from
the stalls of the cardinals. except
that of the newly elected pope and
his holiness retires to robe himself
in the pontifical vestments.
On his return the fisherman's ring
is placed on his finger by the cardinal
Camerlingo, and the new vicar OF
Christ gives his first solemn bene-
diction to the members of the sacred
college from the steps of the altar.
Then taking his seat on the sedia
gestatoria, the pope receives the hon.
age of their eminenoes and again CON-
nunicates the name which 1t is his
pleasure to assume as pontiff.
The people then flock into ST. Pc
ter's to see the pope and receive his
blessing and the stirring scene which
presents itself.
Until Nicholas II, in 1857, restricted
the quality of the electors to the sa
cree college, popes were elected by
both the clergy and the people. More
taan a century later Pope Alexander
III issued a decree making a two
thirds vote of the cardinals necessary
far the election of the pope.
One of the curious and not gener
ally known fundamental rules of
papal election is that the choice oi
tho sacred college is not necessarily
limited to a cleric and that any faith
full Catholic, even though he be lay
man, is eligible. 1t is true that this
rule is more honored in the breach
than in the observance, as the las
layman was elected in 1924, wher
Crescentlus, being raised to the pom
tificate, was Immediately ordained
and became John XIX Several at
tempts have been made to restrict The
choice of the cardinals to clerics, bu
,, they have invariably failed.
Neither does there exist any Law
or regulation to render compulsorl
the choice of an Italian. But the pre-
dominance of Italians in the sacred
college makes the choice of their ma
tionality practical certainty. The
Italian majority is strong in number
but it is stronger in influence. AL
the affairs of the papacy are directei
by the Italian cardinals residing II
Rome. AS heads of congregation
they have the power exercised else
where by cabinet ministers. Thei
views are carried out by Italian sub
ordinates Virtually all of the vatican
officials as we'll as the papal nuncioI
are Italian. All these people, will
: their influence, which is strong have
nothing to gain and everything to lose
| from a foreign successor to Plus x.