New-York tribune., 1922-01-22
Piero Mo.Gi
Involved Procedure and Great
Secrecy Mark Election of Pope
Cardinals Alone Have Right to Vote and They Must
lie Present i'll Person in Closely Guarded Con-
clave Set Aside for Balloting in Vatican

The election Of Pope is neither
simple nor direct. The controversies
surrounding the legal means for ascen-
sion TO this office have been many in
the long history Of the Catholic Church
and have resulted in a rather involved
procedure.
Strictly speaking, however, any male
Christian who has reached the age of
reason can be chosen, not, however
a hereto, a schismatic or "a notori-
GUS simonist.' Though since Urban VI
(l37S-'S9) none but cardinal has been
elected Pope, no law reserves to the
cardinals alone this right.
The procedure following upon the
Pope's death is set in motion By the car
dinal camerlcngo, who. as representative
of the Sacred College, assumes charge
Of the papal household ant verifies the
death of the Pontif. In the presence
OF the house he strikes the forehead
of the dead Pope three times with a
silver mailet, calling him by his bar-
tismal name. The Fisherman's ring and
the papal seals are then broken. A
notary draws up the act, which is the
legal evidence of the Pope's death. The
obsequies last nine days.
Cardinals Arc Notified
Meanwhile the cardinals have beer
notified Of the Impending election, and
those resident in Rome await their abb
sent brethren, assisting in the mean
time at the functions for the deceased
PontifF Cardinals alone have the right
to vote in the conclavc. They must
however, be lcgitimately appointed
have The use of reason and be present
in person. This right is acknowledged d
even if they are subject to, for exam
Pic, accommodation, or if the cere-
monies Of their "creation" as cardinals
have yet to be performed.
During the aforesaid nine days and
until the election of a successor all
cardinals appear with uncovered
their seats at the conclave, to show
that the supreme authority is in the
hands Of the entire college.
The cardinal camerleago is assisted
by the heads Of the three cardnaital
orders known as the "Capita Ordinum. y
There are frequent meetings or "con-
gregations' of these four cardinals TO
determine every detail both of the OBJ
seques of the Pope and of the prep
arations for the conclavc. All matters
of Importance arc referred to the gen
eral congregations which since 1870
have been held in the Vatican.
Bishop Of Ostia Presides
Tho cardinal dean, always the Bishop
Of Ostia, presides over these congrega-
tions, in which the cardinals take rank
and precedence from the date of their
elevation to the purple. Formerly they
had also to provide for the government
of the papal states and to repress fire.
quent disorders during the interreg-
mum. In the first of these congrega-
tions the various constitutions which
govern the conclave are read and the
cardinals take an oath to observe them
Then, in the following days, the vari.
Gus officers of the conclave, the con.
clavists, the confessors and physicians
and servants of various kinds are ex
amined or appointed by special COM
mission.
Each cardinal has a right to take into
the conclave secretary and a servant
the secretary usually being an ecclesi
astic. In case of illness a third con
clavist may be allowed with agreement
of the general CONGREGATION. All are