ELECTION OF THE POPE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 194, 15 December 1876, Page 7

ELECTION OF THE POPE.

Ihb Pope was originally elected by the priests and people of the diocese of Rome; but subsequently by the Cardinals. In the eleventh century, IVicholas II conferred on the Cardinals the right of directing the election; and in accordance with hia statutes, the [ cardinals were bound to demand of the Roman people and the Koman clergy the ralification of their choice. To legalise the election it was necessary that the same name should obtain two-thirds, at least, of the voices of the Conclave, together with the suffrages of the clergy and people of Rome. Tlrs matter, however, of electing io /» P° was foun£ l to g ive riso to dissensions, and consequently, in 1226, on the accession of Gregory IX, both the clergy and people were excluded from all participation in the election. The election of the Pope now is by soruting or ballot. Each Cardinal writes his own name with that of the candidate he proposes on a ticket. These tickets are deposited in the consecrated chalice which stands on tho altar of the chapel where they sit j and each one, approaching and Wing the altar, kneels and repeats a prayer. After a pause the tickets are taken from the chalice by Cardinals appointed for this duty. The tickets are compared with the number of Cardinals present, and when it is found that any one of them has two-thirds of the votes in his favor, he is declared elected. If no one can show the requisite number of votes, another proceeding is gone through. This proceeding is the election by access, so-called because any Cardinal lias the right to accede to the vote of another by al'ering his ticket according to a prescribed form. As soon as the election is declared, Ihe tickets are burnt. Pius IX, who is the 257 th Pope, was eleot«l by unanimity. Only eight out of the siity-one Cardinals who elected the present Pope are still living, the eldest being Filippo de Augeles, the first Cardinal priest, bom in April 16th, 1792, who is consequently tour weeks older than the present Pontiff.