The Washington times., 1937-01-23
Edwin G. Hill
aAtAa,1A- AA1IAl

of Cardinals and, under the regu-
lations of the Roman Catholic
Church, the cardinals are directed
to convene within IS days after the
vacancy has occurred. A cardinal
is not required to obey the sum-
mons to Rome and if, at the end
of IS days, majority of the col.
lege has not arrived, three days
of grace may be permitted. After
the eighteenth day, however, there
can be no further delay and those
present must proceed with the
election.
The choice Of the Pope Is an
historical and solemn proceeding.
The conclave opens with the
Mass Of the Holy Spirit. At night
fall, a clock in the gallery Of the
Court Of st. Damascus signals
the closing Of the chapel to all
but the cardinals.
THE BALLOTS
In the flare Of torches, the
prince-marshal, attended by the
Swiss Guard, sees to the clear
ing Of the galleries and the clos
ing Of all doors and exits. Alone
in the chapel, the conclavo pro-
ceeds to its task. A large urn
is placed before the altar. The
Oldest cardinal approaches the
urn, kneelS for q short prayer,
lifts the ballot above q silver
chalice which stands before the
tabernacle and pronounceS the
| following oath:
"T take as witness Christ
our Lord who one day will
! be my Judge that have chosen
3 him whom / believe it is my
Y duty towards God to choose"
$ Rising, he places the ballot on
! the thin silver disk which covers
! the chalice, slides it into an urn,
bows before the altar and returns
to his throne. Each Of the other
cardinals votes in the same man
y ner. The tellerS count the ballots,
reading them one by one while
: the cardinals make note Of how
E the election is going.
If there is not q majority
| choice, the ballots are burned
in q small stove. They are burned
with wet straw. This straw gives
off q black smoke which Signi-
fies to the multitudeS in st.
e Peters Square that no choice
t has been made.
S The conclsve has been separated
from the world. It's members must
q concern themselves only with the
l. election. Their food Is passed in
to them through a narrow window.
:. After three days, they are limited
r to a meal Of one dish for dinner.
d If five days pass without an elec-
f ton, they receive only bread and
water and a small quantity Of
wine.
The prelate, when chosen to be
{ Pope, announces his acceptance
e and gives the name by which he
d will be called. The ranking card
a inal then places upon his finger the
Fishermen's Ring, and the pro-
Il cession starts to the balcony from
e which the new Pope will make his
e first appearance as such to the
d world.
q Eight hundred years ago, st.
Malachy, Archbishop Of Armagh.
in Ireland, is supposed to have
delivered a remarkable prophecy
y on the papacy.
g It consists Of q list Of Latin
e phrases designating the houses or
q the characteristics Of each Pope to
u the last one, who is described IN
" the prophecy as Peter the Roman.
A PROPHECY
Even Catholic scholars are di.
o vided as to the genuineness Of the
l. prophecy. It is not matter Of
4 doctrine, and it would seem that
" " a majority Of churchmen regard 1t
as interesting but not authentic.
$ Supposed to have been deliv'
n cred in the early part Of the
A. twelfth century, 1t was not re.
y vealed until 1890 A. D., when 1t
d was supposed to have been dis
e: covered among some old docu-
q ments in Rome.
One claim that it is a forgery
1t is based on the fact that it was
r used at the time to foster the
W claims of a certain cardinal to
lie the papacy, the prophecy being
made to apply to his place Of
birth. He was not elected.
In the st. Malachy prophecy,
X Pope Plus XI is set forth as
IN the one of intrepid faith; Pope
- Benedict, who reigned during the
~ World War, was to see Chris
le tianity depopulated." In this case
e. the prophecy certainly was true
1v to the letter, whether it was
- made by st. Malachy in HOO
II A. D., or forged by someone else
Sc in 1900 A. D.
a. The next Pope. according to
the prophecy, is to be The
Id Angelic Shepherd" by whom it
is is expected a great reunion Of
ds Christendom will be brought
or about.
lc- Copyright. 1887. by King Features