Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05


chosen, Americans would feel
they have a close friend in
the Vatican.
Italian Scholar
Siri is the youngest member
of the College OF Cardinals.
Only 48, he became professor
Of dogmatic theology at Genoa
Seminary at "a and Arch
bishop Of Genoa 10 days after
reaching 40.
Somewhat bruSque In man.
ner and known as a driver,
Siri Is so strongly for the I'M
derdog that he is widely
known as "the poor mans
boy" A leading scholar. his
comparative youth might work
against his selection now.
Probably the most impress
sive appearing candidate is
.Ruffini. A vigorous, man with
white hair and piercing brown
eyes, the former Scripture
professor changes things
wherever he goes. A noted
scholar, he inaugurated scho-
lastic reforms in seminaries
and universities: supervised
revisions in the constitution
for Roman theological canon
ical and scriptural universe
ties, and introduced new
methods in numerous fields.
Also noted as a hard driver,
Ruff1ni has the unusual quail
ity of making close friends
with those he drives the hard
est. N Isl {
Italian Diplomat
His close friend. Ottaviarli.
Pro-Secretary Of the Supreme
Congregation of the Holy Of
flee, is generally regarded as
one of the century's great
scholars. He holds doctorates
in theology. philosophy and
canon law.
Short and gentle appearing,
the 64-year-old professor loves
to take long hikes that leave
younger priests painting and
Ottaviani still full of pep.
Widely known as "the
friendliest Of the Romans"
among churchmen. he has
visited the United States sew
eral times and has a host Of
friends and admirers here.
French Deem
A favorite among the 'long-
shot" possibilities is the 10
year-old Frenchman Tisserant,
dean Of the Sacred College Of
Cardinals. So highly regarded
was he at the last election
that when the French people
in the crowd heard the name
Eugene" they did not wait for
the last name but started to
celebrate the election Of a
French pope.
Tisserant. an outstanding
Oriental scholar, has been in
the United States many times
in 1927 in relation to reor-
ganizing the Vatican Library:
in 1888, to lecture at Michi-
gan, Yale and Columbia Uni
versitles; In 1947, to receive
honorary degrees from Prince
ton, Fordham and Duquesne
Universities, and In 1850 on q
visit.
American Long Shots
The two American possible
ties, Archbishop Stritch of
Chicago and Archbishop SPELL
man of New York, are too well
known here to need extended
discussion.
The Canadian, Leger, so,
and two monsignors, Giovanni
Montini, newly named Arch
bishop of Milan, and Do
menico Tardini, Pro-Secre-
tary Of State for Extraordinary
Affairs, may be considered
among the long shot" posi-
bilities.
OF the two latter. Plus XII
in his speech Of January IL.
1853, when the "a new cardi-
mails were consecrated. said he
put their names at the head Of
the list Of new cardinals to be
created but took them OF ut
the insistence of Montini and
Tardini. They have not yet
been elevated. Had they be-
come cardinals. they would be
formidable candidates.
A composite picture Of the
new pope might be the follow
ing. He will be in his COS
Italian. q vigorous leader
against Communists In and
out Of Italy. q good scholar and
probably q former professor,
and the possessor Of wide lin
guistic knowledge. To all this
he win add . firsthand knowl-
edge Of the United States and
Of the problems facing our
troubled world.