Evening star., 1939-03-02
Cardinal Pace|Ii Elected Pope
By Pre|otes on Third Ballot;
Choice Quickest in 300 Years
Selected on 63d
Birthday; Takes
Name Plus XII
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Pope Plus XII, 261st Vicar OF
Christ on earth, died February
10 after ruling Catholic church
for II gears. Sirty-t,uo cdrdi-
mails then gathered in Rome,
some speeding from Western
Hemisphere, for secret conclape
to elect ne,D pontif. The princes
of the church 1Dere locked in
their Vatican prison" yeSter-
day after ceremonies prelim-
indry to the conclaDe.
BY the Associated Press.
VATICAN CITY, March 2.-Eu-
genio Cardinal Pacelli today was
elected 262d Pope of the holy Roman
Church on his 63d birthday and as
sumed the name of Plus XII.
The name under which the new
pontiff will be spiritual ruler OF 33l,-
100000 Catholics was assumed IN
recognition of his succession to Plus
XI. to whom he was papal secretary
of state.
The election of the eminent
italian cardinal on the third ballot
of the first day of the conclaves
voting was without precedent in the
modern history of the church. Not
since 1923, when Gregory XIV was
chosen, has a conclave acted so
promptly.
The new pontiff has thorough
knowledge of the church in the
United States. where he was visitor
in October and November, 1885. The
date of his coronation will be an
nounced later.
Shattered Tradition.
The election of Pope Plus XII
shattered another tradition in that
rarely has a secretary of state to the
preceding Pope been elevated to the
papal seat After the death OF Plus
XI he was cardinal camerlengo, or
interim administrative head of the
church.
Before the conclave opened
Cardinal Pacelli was reported to be
the favorite of the q foreign cardi-
nails because he was believed to be
best qualified to continue the
policies of Plus XII, who died Feb
ruary TO-
AS if to indicate his intentions
of following in the footsteps of his
predecessor, the new Pope selected
the same name.
Plus XII impaired his first papal
benediction from the central bal
cony of st. Peters to wildly cheer
ing throng shortly after the an
nouncement Of his election.
Dean Makes Announcement.
Camille Cardinal Caccia Domi-
nioni, dean of the order of cardinal
deacons, appearing on the balcony
at 6:07 pm. 12:O7 E. S. t., made
the announcement into a micro
phone which carried his voice to
loudspeakers in the great square
before the basilica and to the world
by radio.
In Latin ne proclaimed:
"Annuntio vobis gadium magnum:
habemus observation-disclosures
ac Reverendissium Cardinalem Eu-
genium Pacelli, qui sibi nomen i'm
posuit pio diodecem."
In English this was:
Il give you tidings of great Joy;
we have Pope-the Most Eminent
and Reverend Cardinal Eugenio
Pacelli who has taken upon himself
the name of Plus XII"
After another wait by the crowd
which pushed ever nearer to the
steps under the balcony, noble
guards, palatine guards and papal
gendarmes took their places at the
sides of the balcony.
Pope and Cardinals Appear.
The crucifix bearer and acolytes
who first had appeared with the
dean of the Order of Deacons, re-
appeared. Suddenly the new Pope,
surrounded by cardinals, came into
view.
Papal guards executed military
honors, first on the balcony and
then from below. The crowd burst
into tremendous ovation as his
IlUllIlCSS CdlilC 1Ol W al u W l1lC OdluS-
trade and silently gazed down.
Viva II Papa!' the spectators
roared. Handkerchiefs and hats
we're waved from thousands of
hands.
The pontiff let the ovation con-
tinue for the benediction. A silence
fell on the crowd and some knelt.
A monsignor opened a large ritual
book and held it for the pontiff to
see.
Pope Speaks in Latin.
Then Plus XII began to speak in
Latin:
Blessed be the name of the
Lord" he said.
From now and henceforth for
evermore," tens of thousands of
voices responded.
Our help is in the name of the
Lord" the Pope continued.
Who made Heaven and earth"
rolled back the response.
The pontiff raised his right hand
and three times made the sign of the
cross, turning to the four corners of
the earth.
May the blessing of God Al
mighty, Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
(See CARDINALS, Page A-4)