Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-23
PAPAL POLICY
AFFECTING u. S.
WTLLCONTIlJUE
No Change in Political or
Religious Sense Now
Anticipated.
RELATIONS IN HARMONY
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY FRED EBICK N1LLiA-@ " IL

WSSHTVGTON. Jan. 23.-No conse-
ounnces of direct interest in the United
States either In q political or reuslouS
sense are involved IN the death OF LOpe
Benedict XIV His successor "no1net
Cardinal Gasparri or some other eminent
prince Of the Church, Is certain, IN the
hest Informed opinion in Washington 70
nursue vatican policies already carried
far forward under the reign OF BeneulCI'
That particularly viii be the case IN Tue
event the late PontiHs SecrelaIE %
state. Cardinal Gasparri, is elevated TO
since Roman Catholic affairs in the
pbilipDiues were regulated by the TART
mission in the Roosevelt Administrator
10 the satisfaction of all concerned
American Vatican relations, in an oHlclal
sense, virtually have been noneEisjent.
Systematically during Pope benedleI
reign. the ancient question OF establish
ing diplomatic relations between the
United States and Holy See was raised
hut the movement never assumed form
and substance The late Pope himself At
tached no importance to the appointment
OF q Nuncio at Washington and freely
conceded the probability Of embarrassing
political complications for any America
Administration whose patronage included
a minister to the Vatican. From Rome
the Issue was never pressed.
AGE MAY PRECLUDE
AMERICAN ASPIRANT.
Washin gton Roman Catholic authori-
ties expect the tradition Of centuries to
be followed and an italian Cardinal once
again placed Ia the seat Of St Peter
It would be gratifying in the extreme
TO the Yatican's millions Of adherents In
the United States to have an American
Cardinal elected Pope. The view is ad-
vanced that if either Cardinal Dougherty
Of Philadelphia or Cardinal OCo1nell on
Boston were older either Of them might
Iegltimately aspire to the supreme honor
Of his church Many American Catholics
are convinced II Cardinal Gibbons had
been spared the crown of St. Peter might
perhaps for the first time in the Papacy
history have been bestowed upon ID
Cardinal of the United States Anxious
wonder is expressed in Washington as
to whether Cardinal Dougherty VIII ba
able to reach Rome IN time to cast his
vote In the Sacred College for q new
Pope. It is understood here the Cardi.
nal IS cruising in the West Indies. Car
dinals Gibbons and O'Connsn reached
Rome half an hour after Pope Benedict
was elected In 1914
Information obtained by your cor
respondent in an authoritative quarter
foreshadows as outstanding events OF
the new Papacy two developments OF
inestimably far-reachiug Importance
first. conclusion Of the long pending
negotiations for rapproachement with
the kingdom Of Italy, and secondly an
entente between the Roman Catholic
Church and the Greek National Church
Of Russia.
EFFECT on
SOVIET RUSSIA.
A union Of Roman and Russian
Catholics, 1t is asserted, may turn out to
be q potent factor In the overthrow Of
the soviet regime In Russia. The pa
trtarch Of Moscow has been lu treaty with
the Vatican for considerable period
with a view to an entente. Millions OF
Russians, formerly devout children of the
Greek Catholic faith, having seen their
religious interests ruthlessly outraged
by Bolshevtsts are said to be ready to
throw in their lot with the Church Of
Rome. One Of the |arican's difficulties
in promoting the union has been the lack
Of Roman Catholic priests and mission
aries capable Of speaEng Russian
Another barrier Is that the uou-mouastic
priests Of the Greek Catholic Church do
not practice celibacy. az required by
Rome. The Vatican is an uncomDr5mis-
ing foe Of the doctrines for which Lenin
and TrotsH stand. Cardinal Gasparri
lost no opportunity during Beuedlct's
reign to oppose sovietism and placed the
full force OF the Holy See at Italys dis
posal in fighting he spread Of Bo.Ehevist
Propaganda during the past two years.
The new Papacy, like It's predecessor.
is expected In Washington to concentrate
primarily OF a rappr0chemelt with the
Government and royal house of Italy. In
ternal developments within Italy. espe-
claIy the outbreak Of dangerous radical
tendencies, have couspirad to promote the
Vaticans ambition to recover something
of its ancient sovereignty in Rome. Moth
ing savoriDg Of the old drums of tenn
pOral power is any longer cherished. II
the Church Of Rome officially can be as.
signed as much sovereignty as the Dis
trict Of Columbia enjoys. in its relation
to the rest Of the United States. the
Vatican will be coutent What the Holy
See wants is complete "noninterfereuce"
within its own domain. It wants the
kingIy character Of the Holy Father rec
oguized by italy 70 at least the same ex-
tent it is recognized by virtually all other
European powers including Great Britain
and France During the war the British
government re-es+abiished p legation at
the Vatican, and France, after the long
interval following her expulsion Of the
Catholic orders, also found 1t advisable
to resume diplomatic relations with the
Pope.
ITALY INDEBTED
TO VATICAN.
Italy, according to the Vatican. owes
the Papacy an enormous sum Of money,
in "restitUtl0n' Of appropriated pror-
critics and rights seized by the House Of
SavOry In 1910. WITH accumulated inter
est. the amount today IS far beyond the
power Of italy TO pay. The Vatican prob
ably never would demand payment. 1t
probably would be glad to call the fifty
two year account squared # Italy would