Evening star., 1939-02-12
Cardinals
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NuIOIIJUIS
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the Vatican today than at any papal
election since 1878, when the Cardi-
nails chose as the successor of Plus
TX the papal camerlenga, Giocchino
Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci, who
became Leo XIII. Then the Pope
had but recently been shorn of his
temporal authority. Italy was a
new united nation. The nationalist
leaders wanted the Italian govern
ment to dominate the selection of
Plus follower. But, just in time to
distract official attention from the
election, King Victor Emmanuel died
and war broke out between Russia
and Turkey.
In the political atmosphere of
1899, will the Cardinals feel that the
next successor in the See of st. Peter
should possess the qualities of pru-
Gence. delicacy and tact: that he
should be a man capable of over
coming official animosity toward the
church in Germany by finesse rather
than firmness? Four Cardinals
from Germany, the Archbishops of
Munich, Vienna, Breslau and Co.
logne will vote, and all have been
forceful in the opposition to Naziism.
They have not been prudent, deli
cate or tactful.
But also present will be three
cardinals from Spain, Archblshops
de Assis Vidal of TarragOna, Sequlra
of Seville and Coma of Toledo. They
focus attention on another problem
facing the next Pope. He must de-
velop a policy toward Spain DOM
mated by Gen. Franco, who in turn
Is dominated by Germany and Italy.
The Spanish archbiShops favor Gen.
Franco. The German archbishops,
Faulhaber, InnitZer, Bertram and
Schultz, oppose Hitler. Friendliness
and hostility tread on each others
toes in this situation.
Earthly Intrusion No Novelty.
The intrusion of earthly affairs
into the recesses of the Vatican at
election time is no novelty. AS long
ago as the fifth century, when Latin
Rome had succumbed to the strength
of barbarian invaders, the rulers
Odoacer and Theodore the Ostro-
goth sought to dominate the choice
of the Bishop of Rome. Plus TX less
than 100 years ago saved the Vatican
as his palace only with the help of
French soldiers. The elections of the
XIV and Plus XI, were unusual in
their freedom from worldly political
distractions.
The influence of civilian authori-
ties on the church and the church
on the civilian authorities is more
subtle, more than it was when Fred
erick Barbarossa could choose as
the Bishop of Rome whomever he
wished, and when Pope Gregory x
could designate Rudolph I the Holy
Roman Emperor despite the protests
of the King of Aragon. The question
regarding Germany, the church's S
principal trouble spot, is this:
Is it wiser for the church to try
to bring the Germans to their knees
as ST. Gregory VII brought another
German, Henry ", to time at
Canossa long ago? Or is conciliation
the proper practice?
Will Probably Pick Italian.
If the 81 cardinals were convinced
that the churchs position in Ger
many would be improved by the en-
thronement in Peters chair of a
prelate from a democracy. they un-
doubtedly would turn to the United
States Mundelein, O'Connell and
Dougherty, the three American Car
dinals. are all men of great adminis-
trative ability. The latter two have
had notable diplomatic careers. They
are firm leaders. But the cardinals
are used to choosing Italians. and an
Italian they probably will elect.
A point to consider about the Ital-
Ian cardinals is that the last five
Popes have been chosen from the
north of Italy. 1t does not follow
that the next Pope will come from
the south of Italy, but he might
Among the 35 Italian cardin: Is
are number with American con-
nections. The sister of one of the
potential Popes lives in Washington
at 211 D street SE.-Mrs. Theresa
Bonucelli, whose husband, Joseph,
is a cook
Mrs. Bonucelli's brother is Err
menegildo Cardinal Pellegrinetti,
one of the Vatican's foremost diplo-
mats. He concluded the concordat
between the Vatican and Yugoslavia,
country whose large orthodox
Catholic population made rapport
with the Vatican difficult achieve
ment. Cardinal Pellegrinetti, SO, is
titular archbishop of Adana.
Cardinal Scabarretti SO.
Donata Cardinal Scabarretti,
bishop of Sabinia and secretary of
the holy Office, was secretary Of the
apostolic delegation in Washington
during the 1905, archbishop of Ha-
vana from 1900 to 1901 and apos-
tolic delegate to Canada from 1901
to 1914. His age suggests that he
will not be elected. He is 83.
For many years Pietro Fumasoni-
Biondi, cardinal now attached to
the Vatican as member of the
curia, was apostolic delegate in the
United States. Now he is prefect of
tho congregation for the propaga-
tion OF the faith. He is the uncle
of Leone Fumasoni- -Biondi, who
lives at the Mayfower. He may be
chosen Pope, but he, too, is old fol