The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-27
Are FOrty-One Catholic Prel-
ates Now in Rome.
May Not Wait Americans Be-
fore Beginning Ballot.
TWO PARTIES IN DEADLOCK
Peace With Italian Government
Now Chief Issue.
Boom for Cardinal Maffi APP
pears To Be Declining.

Rome Jan. 27.-MaSS for the re-
pose of the soul of the late Pope Bene-
dict XIV, who was buried yesterday
below the basilica of st. Peters, was
celebrated this morning in the Sistine
chapel
The next important step in the
stately ceremonies of mourning and of
filling the chair of st. Peter Is the
formal calling of the conclaVe OF
cardinals which will elect a new pope.
There is no confirmation as yet of
the report that the conclave will be
postponed to enable the American
cardinals and other cardinals coming
from far away places time to reach
here
Already forty-one cardinals are in
Rome and it is expected that by Sun
day night about fifty will be here
While one newspaper spoke of the pos
sibility of Cardinal O'Connen being
elected, the general belief is that the
next pontiff will be an Italian.
Peace Question Deadlocked.
Rome, Jan. 27.-The question of
rapprochement between the church
and the Italian government enters into
the election. A thoro canvass of opin-
ion in the vatican shows that the peace
party, or those advocating closer re-
lations with the government are vir-
tuaIly deadlocked with the irrecon-
cilables, or those opposing a rap
pECCA61IGnls III Tic nuAlAOIA u WIS
each faction can muster. A two-thirds
majority is necessary for election.
Twenty-nine cardinals, headed by
Cardinal Gasparri, the camerlengo, or
acting head of the church, are known
to favor continuance of Benedicts
policy, which was understood to have
been directed toward a resumption or
relations with the quirinal; twenty
member of the sacred college are
thought to be just as strongly opposed,
while nine are classified as neutral.
The attitude of the American car
dinals - O'Connen OF Boston ana
Dougherty of Philadelphia - is un-
known at the vatican, but the opinion
is expressed that, unless a compro-
mise is reached, never has there been
such an opportunity for foreign car
dinaI to be elected pope. The ma
jority employed by the Italian mem
bers of the sacred college is so evenly i
divided that vatican officials admit
all depends upon the attitude of the
foreign cardinals.
Maffi Boom on Decline.
The boom for Cardinal Maffi, arch
bishop of Piso, who was mentioned as
favored by the government, appears
to be on the decline, while Cardinal
Gasparri and Cardinal Arch Priest
Merry del Val, respectively leaders of
the peace party and the irreconcil-
ables. are acknowledged by their sup
porters to have little chance of being
elected. The candidate of the Gas |
parri party is Cardinal Ratti of Mi
Ian while Merry del Walls faction,
after voting for their leader on the
first ballot as a test of strength, it IS
understood will switch to Cardinal
laurent, the newest created member /
Of the sacred college. stationed in
Rome. laurent presided for many !
years over the Roman Catholic world |
missions and is well known to all the
foreign cardinals
Cardinal Van Tossum of Holland is |
most prominently mentioned as a neu- |
trail candidate, should a deadlock be |
reached. in the conclave. He is 81 |
years old and was raised to the pur- |
pie by Piux x in 1911.
For the first time in history, women |
will be permitted to be present in the |
quarters occupied by the concIave. !
They are Sisters of Mercy. who will |
preside over the destin:es of the car /
finals kitchens, which heretofore |
nave been supervised by monks.
Cologne. Bertram of Breslau. Faulha- !
Der of Munich and Piffl of Vienna to- !
lay brought the number of foreign |
cardinals in Rome up to ten. In ad- /
lition to the German and Austrian |
cardinals there are now here Cardi- |
nails Dubois of Paris, Lucon of !
Madrin of Lyons, Vival of |
Paragon Bourne of London, and !
the British cardinal resident |
n Rome.