The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-08-29
majority of the cardinals to dispense
with the traditional enclosure.


AS a matter of fact these precau-
tions, taken in view of the danger of
interference by secular governments,
have so far been unnecessary, and
elections of popes take place as they
always did since the law of the con-
clave became finally effective. Many
popes have legislated on this subject,
either to confirm the actions of their
predecessors or to define or add to
previous legislation. Clement V de-
creed that the conclave must take
place in the diocese in which the
pope dies and also that all cardinals,
whether communicated or inter-
dicted, provided they were not de-
posed, should have the right to
vote. Clement vi (153D permitted
a slight amelioration in the fare and
in the strict practice of common life.
In the sixteenth century Julius II
(15O5) by a Bull declared invalid
any simoniacal election of pope.
Following the example of Pope Sym
machus (49), Paul V, by Bull in
1885,. denounced and forbade all ca
balls and intrigues during the life
time of a pope. The aforesaid Consti-
tuition of Plus Nv in 1862 is a codi-
fication and re-enactment of all the
laws pertaining to the conclave since
the time of Gregory x. In it he in
sists forcibly on the enclosure, which
had come to be artehr carelessly OBJ
served. The finally directive legis-
lation on this conclave is that of
Gregory XIV. In his short reign
(1621-1623) he published two Bulls
in which every detail of the conclave
is described. Subsequent legislation
has either confirmed these measures,
or regulated the expenditure of mon
ey on the papal obsequies, or de-
termined their order. The more re-
cent legislation of Plus vi, Plus VII.
and Plus TX, provides for all contin-
gencies of interference by secular
powers. Plus vi (who designated a
Catholic country in which the ma
jority of the cardinals happened to
be) and Plus TX (who left the mat
ter to the judgment of the Sacred
College) allowed the widest liberty
as to the place of the conclave.
II. Ceremonial of the Conclave.
Immediately on the death of a
pope the cardinal camerlengo who,
as representative of the Sacred Col
lege, assumes charge Of the papal
household, verifies by a judicial act
the death of the pontiff. In the pres
ence of the household he strikes the
forhead of the dead pope three times
with a silver mallet, calling him by
ring and the papal seals are then
broken. A notary draws up the act
which is legal evidence of the pope's
death. The obsequies last nine days.
Meanwhile the cardinals have been
notified of the impending election
and those resident in Rome await
their absent brethren. assisting in the
meantime at the functions for the de-
ceased pontiff. All cardinals. and
they alone, have the right to vote in
the conclave; they must, however.
be legitimately appointed, have the
use of reason, and be present in per-
son, not through procurator or by
letter. This right is acknowledged
even If they are subject to ecclesias-
teal censures leg, excommun1ca-
tom, or If the solemn ceremonies
of their creation" have yet to be per-
formed. During the aforesaid nine
days, and until the election of sue
cessor, all cardinals appear with un-
covered rockets, just as all have can
opies over their seats at the con-
clave, to show that the supreme au-
thority is in the hands of the whole
College. The cardinal camerlengo is
assisted by the heads Of the three
cardinalitial orders. There are fire.
quent meetings. or "congrega-
tions," of these cardinals to de-
termine every detail both of the OBJ
sequies of the pope and of the pre-
parations for the conclave. All mat
ters of Importance are referred. to
the general congregations, which
since 1870 are held in the Vatican.
The cardinal dean (always the Bish-
OPP of Ostia) presides over these con-
gregations, in which the cardinals
take rank from the date of their ele-
walton to the purple. Formerly they
had also to provide for the govern
ment of the Papal States and to re-
press frequent disorders during the
interregnum. In the first of these
congregations the various Constitu-
lions which govern the conclave are
read and the cardinals take an oath
to observe them. Then, in the fol-
lowing days, the various officers of
the conclave, the conclavists, confess
sors, and physicians, servants of var
ious kinds, are examined or appoint
ed by special commission. Each car
dinal has right to take into the
conclave a secretary and servant,
tho oocrof q nv ,,s,,o11v hoirp on or.