The Nome nugget., 1939-03-03
Solemn Ritual Attends Choice Of New Pope
Smoke, Black or White, Issuing From Chapel Tells
 World of BallOting
By Rev. Dermot O'Flanagan Pastor, Holy Family Church


 of the Apostolic Chamber to the Pope's apartments, strikes three times with a silver hammer upon the forehead of the dead Pope, and then before them makes the solemn official declaration of the death of the Head of the Church. He draws up the certificate of death which all his subordinates sign with him. Then, assisted by the same persons, he officially takes possession of the Sacred Palaces and makes a number of inventories.
 When the Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals has public ly proclaimed the death of the Pope, word is sent ito all Car dinals throughout the world. The College of Cardinals (when com plete it numbers 70, and consti- tutes the Senate of the Church. They act as the Popes advisers, and elect his succeSor.) is then called to Rome for a solemn con clave to elect the new Pope. This conclave must meet on the if teenth day after the Pope's death. In case all the Cardinals cannot arrive in Rome by then, an extension can be granted, but on no account later than the 18th day.
 At the first meeting of the College of Cardinals, the Cham berlain has the fishermen's ring and the leaden stamp for seal ing Bulls of the deceased Pope broken before the assembly. He then makes all arrangements for the conclave at which the cleo ton is to take place.
 The election takes place in the -Sistine Chapel. On the highest step of the altar is the papal throne for the new Pope. The l Cardinals are seated along the side walls of the Chapel. Each Cardinal in turn, according to seniority. bears to the altar his paper on which he has written his choice for Pope. At the altar he kneels and takes an oath: q call the Lord Christ, my future judge, to witness that I am elect ing the one whom in the sight of God I judge the most proper to be elected" He then places his vote in a chalice on the table. A two-thirds majority is required
 The votes are examined before the altar; close by is the cele brated stove in which, when no election results, the votes are burned with damp straw the traditional black smoke announc ing to the people outside the Vat ican that the Church is without a head. When the election results in the required majority, the voting papers are burned with out straw. the smoke being the first news to the outside world of the election.
 As soon as the Pope is elect ed, he is asked if he accepts his election, It is this acceptance by the candidate elect which makes him the new Pope. The election is for life, but the Pope may al ways resign his office. He is then clothed with the papal invest ments. takes his place on the pa pal throne and receives the hom age of the assembled Cardinals. His first public act follows when he goes to the balcony in view of the crowds outside and gives his blessing "urbi ct orbi" (to the city (Rome) and the world). His coronation usually takes place on the following feast or Sunday. Nowadays the Pope is chosen from among the Cardinals, but according to Church law every adult Catholic male is eligible to the Papacy. If one elected is not a bishop he must be consecrated. The successor to Pope Plus XII will be the 262nd to occupy the Chair of Saint Peter.
 The recent words of Puis XII sum up in brief his position as the Father of suffering human ity: "We continually repeat to God that We would be very happy if he would give us a