THE ELECTION OF POPE LEO XIII.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5023, 22 July 1903, Page 7

THE ELECTION OF POPE LEO XIII.

It may interest our readers to know the course of procedure usually adopted between the death of a Pope aud tho election of his successor, and how that election is conducted. An account of ' ■ took place during the interregnum of Pius IX. and Leo XIII., together with the election of tho latter, will in this connection bo both interesting and instructive. During tho vacancy of the Holy be© tho responsibility of the interregnum rests largely with tho Cardinal Camerlingo, or High Chamberlain, appointed for tie purpose. At the Pope's death this Cardinal approaches the dead Pope with a small silver mallet, and kneeling near him calls him three times, not by ins papal but his baptismal name, and gives him three taps with tho mallet ou tho lorchead. Tho silence following this triple call is taken a s the declaration of his death’ and the Cardinal Camerlingo announces it officially to tho assistants. Pope Leo XIII. (then Cardinal Pecci) was Camerlingo at tho demise of Pius IX. Ho lost no tim© in taking stops for tho convocation of the Conclave. Three days after the death of Pms IX., namely, on tho 10th of teb--1878 (Pius having expired on tho <th), the preparations for lodging the Cardinals during the Conclave wove begun in tho Vatican, During th© whole Ume of the Conclave tho Cardinals have to live sequestered from the outside world, with which no possibility of communication is loft them- Tho doors are absolutely closed; there remains for ordinary communication only one .window provided with a rovolving-box under the supervision of a committee of prelates. Each Cardinal has for his personal a<> commodntion three small cells, which are for himself, his secretary, and his servant. It was decided that tho mootings of tho Conclave should be held in the large Sixtiuo Chapel. On both sides of the choir scats wero erected surmounted with canopies, violet for the Cardinals appointed by Plus JX„ green for the four surviving Cardinals created by Gregory XVI. Before the seats were tables and writing materials. In the intervening free space were other tables covered with violet cloths for the secretaries and tho reception of th© voting billets which are deposited in a chalice. i\t th© end .of the hall was a small portable grate communicating with the outside by a chimney. There are burned the billets after any indecisive ballot, and

tbo smoko escaping lip the chimnev, lie Nnmou ' (as Inc Imiians nail in. laujcates to thy anxious crowd on St. lo’.cr’s Piar.na that, n.c eln-tmn n no. via aocoiiiplisncd. One can picture to in 1 C‘r i r 1 .1 ~1 11. i r ; r , 1 I b til ‘ Oh I] I m dm I duos i] , , Ol line i.ust .1 udqo.cn ■: by Michael Ancolo siirimmntiiiy Pie allar at tbo cmi ut tho cnoir, and one can torm a fair n’-oi of (lie place where tie great h’si.oiic fact of Leo’s election oce-unei!. bn.rciy it was a spectacle unique in (See coral this meet im; ol the .Senate of pm Holy Church in such a place, and ilia majesty of the old li-naan Senate paled before that of the Sec red College meetin- ill tbo Siitir.n for tho election of the Vicar of Christ.

Tho necessary alterations in the Vatican occupied oUO workmen* unclov the (lived ion cl' iho architects Vospifjnani and Martiuncci and wcm finished ten flays after the demise of the Sovereign Pontiff—a lapse of time after which the Conclave has a full rijrht to meet, even though t)io foreign Cardinals may ho unable to attend. In accordance with this proscription, on Monday, 18i.li i;f February, towards I o’clock p.m., Iho Car* flinals assembled and passed into the Conclave between two lines of noble guiml?. The Cardinals, who in the presence of iho Pope usually have their pectoral crosses concealed, now wore them ostensibly as the sign of their supreme jurisdiction during the vacancy. The Cardinal Camerlingo walked last, preceded by four Swiss Guards. In a few minutes Iho Cardinals assembled in the Pauline Chanel invoked the assistance of iho Holy Spirit upon their operations bv chanting the "Yen] Creator/’ then, all the strangers being excluded, the outer door of the Sixliuo was closed ami the keys of it transferred to Prince Chigi, tho marshal of the Conclave. Each day of the Conclave begins with tho Mass of the Holy Ghost sung at 10 a.m., and followed by the first scrutiny. If this scrutiny does not decide the election, a second scrutiny is held iu the afternoon at four o’clock. Two-thirds of the votes are required for the validity of the election. Generally Iho first scrutiny is indecisive, but Cardinal Pocci in that scrutiny ou Tuesday, IOUi February. 1573, got 23 votes, the most favoured one after him obtaining only seven. Prom the very outset, therefore, the election of Leo XItT. could be foreseen. At Uu» second scrutiny of Iho same day Cardinal Pocci got 38 voles, and on the morrow morning, February 20th, Wednesday, ho obtained 41 votes out: of 61. whbdi decided his elevation to tho Papal throne. Tho Conclave had done its work quickly; Cardinal Pecci hod over tho i.vro-tlimlg required. "What were his impressions when, from the beginning, he saw his name coming forward so prominently? He endeavoured to impress the Cardinals with the reasons which, in his humility, he considered adverse to his election, especially his delicate health and his age, which might in a short time involve the necessity of a fresh Conclave. After the second scrutiny his anguish increased, and going to on© of his venerable colleagues whoso influence with the Cardinals ho knew to be great ho said: "I cannot bo silent. I must speak to tho Sacred College; I am afraid they arc making a huge mistake. They believe me to bo a scholar, a sago; I am nothing of iho sort. They snppos© I have the requisite qualities for a Pope, which T havo not. That is what I wish to toll tho Cardinals/* I]is colleague replied: "It is not your business to judge of your learning, but ours. As regards your qualities; God knows thcnl; leave * the matter to Him/’ This conversation was ’■elated by Cardinal Honnochose. Cardinal Bonnet, who sat beside Cardinal i>coi in I lie Conclave, also relates I hat, when flio latteq heaikl his name coming out of tho chalice with over increasing frequency, ho burst into tears.' while the pen fell out of his trembling hand. Cardinal Bonnet picked it up and gave if to him saying: “Courage! this is not your persona} matter, but tho question of tho Church and the future of the world/* Tho future Pope’s only answer v.’aq an imploring look to heaven. Finally, Cardinal Bcchamps declared that, when Pecci heard the,result of the election, his taco became extremely pale, arul that on the morrow he fßeelianipcj was moved to tears at his pathetic and humble description of tho weakness of human efforts in tho presence cf the heavy burden of the Supreme Pontificate. The moment tho election was declared over the canopies over the different Cardinals’ seats were lowered, except that of Cardinal Pecci, and lh e three leauin* Cardinals, approaching th© elect, said to him In the prescribed formula: “bo you accept your election as Sovereign Pontiff?” Tho Camorlingo, with tromblhm but distinct voice, answered that h 0 felt unworthy of such an elevation but in tho presence of tho accord of the SaCred College he submitted to the will of God Then tho Cardinal-dean said: “What name do you wish to take?” He answered: “Leo XIII.” He took his name out of gratitude towards Leo XII. whom he had always much admired.

. Ueo Mil. tlien proceeded to tho SixUna vestry to assume pontificals and Put on the Fisherman's ring; next, sitting at the altar in the "sedia gestatoria,” or Papal chair, ho received the homage of the Cardinals, who an hour before his equals, now lutinbly knelt to receive his blessing and venerate in his person the Vicar of Christ. A trulv touching and sublime spectacle typical of the supernatural spirit which guides the Church.

It is the first Cardinal-deacon’s privilege to announce to the world the election of the new* Pope. Dosnito his great ago and infirmities. Cardinal Catorini went to the "loggia,’' or. open gallery, over the portico of St. Peter’s, which locks out upon the Vatican Piazza, and there, in the usual formula, ho said; "1 announce to you a great joy. \V'e have for Pope the most eminent and most Reverend Joachim Peooi, who has taken the name of Leo XIII.” At the same instant, according to the prescribed rite, a sheet of paper bearing the same words was dropped from the “loggia;” and as it fell rvas clutched at by a hundred hands. Instantly the huge bells of St. Peter’s were tolled with grand and thrilling effect and all Homo was in commotion, while on the lightning wings of the telegraph the glad tidings spread to the ends of the earth.