The sun., 1918-09-12
IRELAND IS CHOSEN
CARDINAL, REPORT
Clergyman Just Returned
From Rome Is Quoted as
Authority.
NOMINATED GIN PETTO'
Selection Awaits Action OF
Consistory, Which Fills
All Vacancies.
GIN PETTO'

The Most Rev. John Il. ireland. Arch
bishop Of st. Paul. and one OF the most
learned and distinguished prelates OF the
American hierarchy. has been chosen to
All one Of the vacancies In the College OF
Cardinals by Pope Benedict XIV, accord
ing to an interview obtained by the
Brooklyn Euole yesterday with "a
prominent Catholic clergyman who re-
Gently returned from Rome"
The Brooklyn newspaper withhoIds
the name Of its clerical authority for
the statement that Archbishop Ireland
Is TO be formally elected to the Sacred
College at the next Papal consistory,
but It tells in detail the conversation
which the prominent Catholic clergy
man" had with Pope Benedict in Rome
recently, In which the Pope confirms
what has been common rumor In high
Catholic circles for several months past.
Prominent Catholics in Manhattan
who we're asked last night II they had
heard from authoritative sources that
Archbishop Ireland had been selected by
Pope Benedict for the honor OF being
the fourth living American Cardinal an
swered that no such word had come to
them in an official way, but that for al
most year the report had persisted
here that the Archbishop OF st. Paul was
about to receive the honor.
at was while the clergyman was at
| the Vatican" said the Eagle yesterday
| In telling OF the interview with the Pope
| which the papers authority for the re-
| port is said to have had recently, that
| the news came to him in an offhand
manner from the Holy Father himself.
| 1t came about in this way. according to
| the priest who gave the information to
| the Eagle to-day:
| when do you expect to get back to
American asked Pope Benedict Of the
priest.
| "'Some time next month replied the
priest. 1T will take me four or five days
| actually to reach home. because I live
in the Western part OF the United States.
| "'Have you heard how Cardinal Ire
land is OF later gently asked the Holy
Father. pausing to answer. while his
| oountenance indicated in the suggestion
of a smile. the surprise anticipated from
the priest at the question carrying with
| II the great honor conferred upon the
American preate.
| "'You mean Archbishop Ireland. don't
you" inquired the priest. believing that
| me Pontln mad Tor the movement con-
fused the identity OF the men for whom
he was inqulring.
mo quickly replied the Pope. Z
mean Cardinal ireland. whom l have
| named for the red hat IN petto.'"
BY "in petto"-literally 'in the breast
naturally In taken to mean that the
Pope has definitely decided that Arch.
bishop Ireland is to become the mex
American Cardinal. and therefore that
all that remains now to complete the ele
| walton OF the American prelate TO tn.
Sacred College of Cardinals is the for
NAL action of the consistory.
Owing to the world turmoil now II
progress 1t is not likely that ArchblshoI
Ireland or any other prelate will be ele
waited to the Cardnalate until after the
war. There are now seven vacancies ir
the Sacred College which. IL the worlG
had been at peace. would In all prob
ability have been filled some time ago.