Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-24
FRANCE WANTS
MERCER FOR
THE new POPE
Election of Belgian Prelate
Admitted to be Doubt
full, However
CONCLAVE FEB 2.
American and Canadian Representa-
tives Expected to be Late in Ar
riving.

Rome, Jan. 24.-Official orders for
the summoning of the Sacred Col
lepe conclave, at which successor
to Pope Benedict XIV will be chosen.
place the date for the beginning OF
the impressive secret ceremony on
February 2. 1t is doubtful that the
two American cardinals or the Ca.
madam prelate will be able to reach
Rome in time to cast their votes.
Deputy Di Fausto, of the Popu,
lar Party declared in an interview
that France would support the can
didacy of Cardinal Mercier, OF Bel
gium, thus breaking up the custom
of choosing an Italian Pope. His
election, it was admitted, was far
from probable.
With the beginning of the Novem
Diales, or period of nine days de-
voted to funeral services for the
late Pontiff, workmen are starting
their task of walling up the apart
ments, behind which the cardinals
will meet and from which they must
not depart until choice of a new
Pope has been made.
Fifty-five princes of the church
probably will be present at the be-
ginning of the conclave. and two
thirds majority is necessary for
election. Indications continue to
favor Cardinal Maffi as the most
probable choice for the throne of St
Peter. although Cardinal Gasparri
and Cardinal Merry Del Val also
are receiving much consideration.
That the new Pope will be an ltal-
ian is considered a foregone conclu-
sion, since of the entire member
ship Of the Sacred College thirty
one are Italians.
Meanwhile the body of! Benedict,
XIV, removed from the throne room
in the Vatican where it lay in
state yesterday and viewed by high
church officials and other digni-
taries. Vas borne to the Sacrament
chapel at st. Peters at 9 o'clock
Monday; morning with the usual GER
emony prescribed on usch occasions.
The restriction, imposed by the
late Pope, however that his body
should not be embalmed, necessitated
several changes in the usual formula,
and shortened the period usually
devoted ts viewing the body by de-
vout worshippers. Much of the
ceremony, too, was hastily changed
to meet the circumstances.
Beneaict's nephew, the Marquis
Giuseppe Della Chiesa. is made
practically sole heir to the per-
sonal property left by the Pope, by
the pontiff's will. Other property
is held only temporarily by the
pontiff, as custodian for the church.
and returns to the church upon his
death
For the first time in the history
of new Italy, the official Gazette,
organ of the government, carried
Monday evening an announcement of
the death of Pope inclosed in a black
border.
Again the action is considered
significant, and-coupled with the
visits of ministers to the Vatican
and the governments orders for y
two day period of mourning through
out Italy-gives rise to the belief
that the reapproachement of state
and church for which Benedict
worked so earnestly in life, may be
on the eve of realization.
Ecclesiastical and political ex-
perts, discussing candidates for pri-
macv, are devoting some attention
to Cardinals Lafontaine and Ratti,
Either Of these two dignitaries
would be more acceptable to some
elemtnts of the hierarchy. narticu
larly since Cardinal Merry Del Val
and some others such as Gasparri
now cardinal chamberlain are
strongly opposed to Maffi's cordial
ity with italian royalty.