The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-21
WORLD POLITICS
I HELD INTEREST +.
or BENEDICT XIV.
Like Leo XIII He Sought Diplomatic
Relations With ALI Countries;
Anxious for o. s. Friendship.

washington, Jan. z1.-(By the
Associated Press. )-Benedict XIV,
from the very beginning OF his
pontihcate showed that he would
above all, be a political pope. fol-
lowing the policy of his early
friend and counsellor, Cardinal
RanpoIla, and OF Leo XIII. Plus K
died of grief for not having been
able to prevent the World war and
Benedict XIV expended such energy
in trying to stop or mitigate the
conflict that many people, includ-
ing several American archbishops
and bishops, who approached him
afterwards, think that the efforts
made in this endeavor seriously af-
fected his constitution.
Like Leo XIII he was most an
xious to establish diplomatic rela-
tons with all countries, whether
Catholic or not, and he succeeded
in having in Rome representatives
of the world, with the exception OF
the Scandinavian STATES in Europe,
and the United States in the Amer
lean continent.
Failed at Picking.
While negotiations were proceed
ing for the establishment of papal
nur-cio at Toxic, Benedict XIV failesl
to have an inter-nuncio appointed
at Picking through the opposition OF
the French government, who, it is
said, feared that a papal represen-
tative in China might affect their
right of protecting the Catholics in
the far east
France was helped in that occa-
sion, it is said here, by the United
States, which objected to the ap-
pcintment of Monsignor Peprelh as
inter -auncio in China on account of
his alleged anti-AmericanSf feelings,
as shown while apostolic delegate
to Philippines.
Benedict XIV always showed a
great desire for the close relations
with America and left nothing un-
attempted to show his sympathy in
anything affecting the United States.
This was shown on the occasion of
the sinking OF the Lusitania when
the Pope, Notwithstanding his
strict neutrality in the war-he pre-
ferred to call it ''impartiality
photographed TO the kaiser his alb
horrence of the action which had
SnOCk6u the civilized WOTlu.
Inspired Arms Meet
His most important effort in
favor of the conclusion of peace
was the note he sent on Aug 1, 1917,
TO all the powers, which was for
warded to President Wilson through
England, as there are no diplomatic
relations between the holy see and
the United States. Benedict XIV
always maintained that his note
lwas the first step towards the>pres-
~ emit Washington conference on
Limitation of armament. Indeed, he
I went much further by suggesting
the suppression of conscriptions as
the means to induce the European
countries to disarm.
When President Wilson went to
Rome in January, 1919, and decided
to visit the pope, the necessary ne
gotiations had to be carried through
the American ecclesiastical college,
there not being any accredited rep
resentative of the United States to
the vatican. 1t was arranged that
the American president would go
from the Quirinal palace, where he
lived as guest Of the king, to the
American embassy and from there,
drive to the vatican. Thomas Mel
son Page, the American ambassador
to Italy, accompanied Mr.. Wilson as
far as the entrance gate to the vat
lean, but went no further, as he
was accredited to a ruler who does
not entertain any official relations
with the holy see.
Gorgeous Ceremonies Due.
After the pope is dead, several
rnrorY7nnfne- toll
place, including a solemn funeral
in the Basilica of st. Peter, where
tho body of the late pontiff lies in
state and is exposed to the venera-
ton of the faithful.
Meanwhile, the preparation for
the conclaVe is carried on by all the
personnel Of the apostolic palace.
Apartments must be arranged in
side the vatican to receive all the
cardinals who win assemble in
Rome with their secretaries and
servants. This wifi force a Sc
cinded precinct in which the mem
bers Of the sacred college will be
walled in and the safety of their
voluntary Imprisonment will be
guarded by the marshal of the con-
elave, who is responsible for the
freedom and independence of the
princes OF the church.
Their seclusion will be so strict
that communication with the out
side will be possible only through a
small window equipped with what
might be described as a revolving
door, similar to those used in hotels
and large buildings in America in
the winter. Use of this will be re-
stricted to the sending out of laun-
dry and the receiving of food and
medicine.
Smoke Tells Story.
Once the cardinals are in con-
claye. besides many prayers and
functions established by the con-
stitution 81 the conclave, they must
go through two ballots a day until
one candidate receives more than
two-thirds of the votes. After each
ballot when no election takes place,
the ballots are burned and the
smoke they produce is seen from
the square below coming out from
a chimney above the dome of the
Sistine chapel.
Large crowds gather twice a day
IN the square OF St Peter to watch
for the smoke. When the smoke is
missing the crowd understands that
the new poltiff is elected and rushes
inside the basllica to wait for the