THE NEXT POPE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 24, 1 April 1892, Page 23

THE NEXT POPE.

(From the New York Sun.)

(Contitiued.)

The attitude of the Holy Father and of tbe Sacred College in regard to the place of mieting of the Conclave has la'ely assumed a character of unusual decision. It is inconteslible that the Vatican feels that any reconciliation with the kingdom of Italy is a baautiful chimera. The house of Savoy and sectarianism are not willing to restore Home, the international city, to the Pope, and never will be. Therefore on both sides they are sharpening their weapons for the final Btruggle for existence. The loager the status quo Ka's, th? more th 3 chances of tha I'alian kingdom are multiplied. Bach day it wins a moral and intellectual battle, because each day it accustoms the people mora and more to the present situation. Leo XIII. is convinoed that the longer it remains in Rome the more precarious and difficult is the position of the Vatican. When the Holy See sees no hope of change, and knowß that the status quo may last forever ; that tbe general order lof Europe can only be modified slowly, and that every appearance

of amelioration is vanishing, would it not seem desirable to move voluntarily out of a false and painful situation ? The reasons of moral security weigh heavily in the sanctuary of the Pontifical conscience. Tradition, the age of the Cardinals, and the fear of the unknown, play a considerable part in this evolution of the Holy See ; but there comes a time when the question of existence overbalances all questions of opportunity and convenience, when the custom of centuries stands atide and vanishes before the need of living, breathing, and developing. The law of existence v the first law of all. The Italian Government has measured the whoie scope of this eventuality. Although it affects a serenity that is not in its heart,' it fears an exodus. Since 1879 it has been concentrating a large proportion of its thoughts round this pivot of internal and general policy. In its judgment, to interfere with the existing conditions of the Conclave would be to lay hands upon one of the bases of its life and organism. When Pius IX. reached the decline of bis Pontificate, loaded with years, M Depretis made a whole campaign in the European capitals to force the Sacred College to elect tee new Pope in Rome. In his successive notes he multiplied promises to the different Cabinets, and guaranteed, as he said, the absolute liberty of the Conclave. He took the Vatican under bis guardianship, so that no power might favour the current in the direction of a possible exodus of the Conclave. If in 1878 the Government dreaded a departure of the Papacy its fear has become greater since. Grave faults have been committed. The situation has grown worse. The two Powers, from adversaries that might be reconciled, have become two irreconcilable torses. The atmosphere of the Vatican has been renewed. They breathe there already the air of the future. On the heights of the Holy See there is felt something like the sensation of a new earth, the precursory breezes of another climatic season for the Papacy. That is the reason why the Quirinal has increased its efforts and will still increase them to hold the Vatican in its present state of immobility. At the commencement of the ysar 1890 M. Crisp i opened negotiations with the allied Cabinets for the purpose of preparing the Conclave* farcing it to remain in Rome, and bringing aboat the election or a Pope who wonld not be too redoubtable. It. Rudini has continued this work. It has even been said that the Coasulta included in its conditions for the renewal of the Tripe Alliance a restrictive clause, a sort of agreement about the Conclave. In fact, this thing was attempted, but Mgr. Galimberti, becoming aware of it in time, was able to foil the manoeuvre. Yet it is certain that the Consulta delivered to the Emperor, through the intermediary of M. de Revertesa, the Austro-Hungsrian Ambassador to tha Holy See, a confidential note, in which it specified wha: it desired. It is also said that the Emperor was painfully affected by this communication, because his position as Chief of State and the traditions of the house of Hapsburg toroade him to favour too much the selfish projects of the Quirinal against the Pope, and therefore against the Ca' holies of his empire. The reasons for this intervention are plain enough. An Italian ministry could oever, without committing suicide or without absolute abdication, give to the Conclave and the Popo liberty to leave the Italian soil. Tbe future of the house of Bavoy and the life of its Government are based upon the statin quo. The day that a departure should be accomplished the Italian titate would be thrown off the track. The Roman question is tbe knot of the policy, tbe main spring of tbe Italian unitary mechanism. A change, a modification, or a transposition of factors, however slight that transposition might be, would bring about a dislocation and endanger all ths solidity of the improvised State. The Conclave away from Rome, the exodus of the Papacy would be not only the overthrow of the order now established ; it would be, with brief delay, a revolution in Italy. It would be the triumph of the republic. Bonghi said only the other day : "If the Pope quits Rome through the Via Flamiman, the King will be obliged to flee through the Porta PU." Never under normii condition? has such an agitation been possibie as that which wou d follow the departure of the Sacred College. Wnat, then, wjuld it be in our painful and difficult condition, at the time when the least shock is liable to produce au earthquake in the order of Europe ? It w juld nit only be the cause of the Pope opened up wlh eclat, but it would be a peril for the concert of ihe allied Powers. It would b-s the signal for new combinations and the prelude to extraordiuary c )mp'exities. Consequently tae Powes, with luly at the head of them, are interested iv the onfoldibg of tnis hUoricil episode. At no period in bißtory has tbe Papacy had such mighty influence upon the march of international destinies. M. de Maistre once prophesied : " Tbe dayr are approaching when we sha 1 have in the world tae visible prssence of the Papacy." lhat time has now arrived. Toe Vatican hr kgntered into the public conscience, into me calculations of States a^ rae principal, the pivotal, factor in European order. Many statesmen regret that they did not take up their pjsitions in 1870 in this great affair, in order to bring about an amicable arrangement between the two powers that together occupy the city of Rome. At that time an arrangement wonld not have met with the resistance that is offered to-day to any entente cordiale. On the one siie as on the o her minds have become embittered : the situation has become spoiled. There has been accumulated on the two heights of tbe Capitol and of St. Peter's

snob an enormous amount of misunderstanding, disagreement and conflict that it would require a great stroke of Providence to bring things back again to their natural order. Therefore the eventuality of the Conclave interests the leaders of the nation*. It is beyond doubt to-day that the whole quadruple force of Italy, Germany, Austria, and England, is combined against any innovation in the choioe of a successor to Leo XIII. It would be excessive, it seems to me, to characterise closely the controlling inspiration of this attitude. The departure of the Sacred College would unquestionably be the most tremendous blow that could be directed against the Quirinal, the most fatal event, full of the gravest consequences. Now the Triple Alliance has need of Italy, and therefore it fears this mysterious exodus quite as much as does the Consults. From Madrid and Lisbon we fiod similar influences proceeding. The relationship of the two Queens with the houses of Savoy and Hapsburg render the diplomacy of these two countries very malleable for the wishes of the Qairinal. All who know the political coil of Borne, that soil so multiform, so difficult to understand, made of a combination of mystery and subsoil, a delicate domain reserved for the elite of politics, are not ignorant of the fact that the Ambassadors of Madrid and Lisbon to the Pope have received orders to assist the moral effects of the Triple Alliance, and to influence ecclesiastical opinion in Borne against the probability of ao exodus of the Sacred College. But will these combined efforts succeed ? If the Quirinal hat such a strong interest in maintaining the present state of affairs ought the Vatican to favour its rival by remaining in expectation and inaction 1 Is it not evident to every impartial observer that opposing interests must bring about a diversity of conduct ? If the entire existence the Italian State is linked with the status quo, ought the Pope to fasten himself to a waiting policy? If eveiy day, standing with folded arms, he finds himself losing ground ; and if the removal of the Sacred College puts in question all the work of the Italian revolution, is it possible to hesitate and not have recourse to snob a convenient weapon ? Objections are made on the difficulties of removal, that black cloud in the international horizon, and the uncertainty of a return. But what the Vatican will not do at an inopportune moment and of its own accord, it may be forced to do the da/ when the revolution considers itself strong enough to enter the arena for the last battle. Everything that is great in history has its thorns. Whatever has an inflaeace upon human destiny may make the most courageous tremble, and cause the most creative miodsto falter. But extraordinary situations demand extraordinary acts. The Papacy has faith in the Divine force. It rests upon the Infinite and upon the moral miracle. As an historical power, as a human contingency, it has its modesty and its timidity. It knows the calculations and the hesitations of political bodies. It is anxious and is not afraid. It takes refuge ia worldly prudence. But when it is not alone its human side that is at stake, but all its pastoral ministry : when all its religious mi-sion and all its social and amphictyonic arbitrage are threatened, how can we refuse to admit that Leo XIII. and bis counsellors should diacu9B the reasons in favour of an exile necessarily temporary ? Has not tie Sacred College several times been in session abroad I And have cot these extraordinary sessions been followed by a marvellous rejuvenation of the moderating and pacifying power of the Holy See ? But Ido not wish to enter upon an argument, My intention is simply to be the sincere interpreter of the reality, a witness of facts. And is it not strange that when one weighs the reasons for and against, we are brought infallibly to the conclusion that an exodus alone will bring about a solution worthy of the Pope, of Italy, and of the civilised world ?

(To be concluded.')

In one of its recent issues the Moniteur de Rome gives expression to an opinion that a very remarkable article which recently appeared in the Grahslianiiie, a journal of considerable influence in St. Petersburg, has not received all the notice which it deserves. According to the Russian authority, the incidents of the second of last October ought to have opene J the eyes of all friends of the Pope to the seriousness of the situation in which his Holiness is placed. The Itaiin Radicals have given the world clearly to understand that on the very day on which war may chance to be declared they will at once stt fire to the Vatican ; while there are to be found not a few among the lower ranks of this party who are but little disposed to wait for the declaration of war before carrying their design ioto effect. The Grahshaninc declares that it can well understand the apprehensions which fill the mind of the Poatiff and bis fears lest the date of his departure from Home may be hastened. The same paper asks what hop>eß there are that liberty of action will be allowed to the next Conclave which shall assemble for the election of a Pope, and adds that the only cbaocc of a favourable issue to the present crisis is to be found in the united action of (Jqthohcs in all parts of the world. We notice in a London paper that the Pope has conferred a notable distinction on Mr Clement Scoti, the well-known Catholic litterateur of London. The honour referred to consists of the Papal blessing inscribed on a documeut signed aod sealed at the Vatican, and enclosed in a magnificent casket of lacquer and Damascene steel. This favour is intended as a recogniti n of Mr Scctt's eloquent protests against the at keif in of the current dramatic literature. Mr Scott is the son of a Protestant clergyman. He became a Catholic when quite a young man. Amongst the other distinguished literary men of London, who are also known as practical Catholics, may be mentioned Mr F. C. Burnan , editor of the famons comic paper, Punch,