European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 08, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse From left italian front running cardinals Baggio Benelli and a europeans hold majority by Robert d. Mcfadden new York times he election of a successor to Pope Paul i historic Transfer of spiritual leadership and a drama of great solemnity and suspense will Bethe responsibility of 115 cardinals from through out the world who will gather in the Vatican As thed College of cardinals in the next 15 to 18 Days to , or regime of the holy see s vacant in opened with Pope Paul s death sunday will con util a new pontiff is elected by a vote of cardinals Ling the conclave in the Vatican s sistine Chapel. O be elected a candidate most receive a vote Ore than two thirds of the Cardinal present that b Mamom of two thirds plus one additional vote agree int u not reached in nine Days a simple . Election is to be governed by 800-year-old rules Laid by Pope Alexander in in 1179 by the provisions of published by Pope plus Xii on8, ims by Pontif icis elect a series of Amend i and instructions issued by Pope John Xxiii in of to and by Pope Paul s 1975 decree making who have reached the age of 81 ineligible to Paul in us 1975 decree rejected any suggestion is patriarchs of the Eastern rite or anyone cardinals be allowed to vote and he forbade of any sound recording or filming of the election w inside the election regulations the conclave must be i no sooner than the 15th Day and not later than . Election by the College of cardinals is we j f three ways of selecting a Pope. Two called inspiration and delegation have not been employed since the 17th Century. Inspiration is a selection by spontaneous unanimous consent of the cardinals something like election by acclamation delegation is the appointment of three five or seven cardinals with full Powers to name a Pope and is a method employed Only to break a deadlock of the entire Assembly. Despite the age restriction on voting eligibility added to the rules by Pope Paul the conclave to elect his successor will be the largest and most inter nationally representative la history 115 cardinals from about 40 countries will take part. Those eligible will include 10 american cardinals and Only 27 from Italy italian cardinals have traditionally dominated the sacred 1963,80 cardinals from 29 nations including 29 from Italy participated in the election of Pope Paul in the1958 conclave that selected Pope John Xxiii 51 cardinals from 21 nations participated the 1939 conclave that elected Pope Pius had 59 members from 16 nations. For the first time non europeans will. In this year conclave hold a majority of the votes. In the conclave in 1983, there were 26 cardinals whose seats were outside Europe compared to 20 in 1958 and seven in 1939. The progressive internationalization of the Roma Catholic Church Over the years which was vigorously pursued by Pius John and Paul has decreased die rela Tive importance of the italian and european cardinals in the election process and raised the Poss Filley that a non italian might be chosen for the first time since Hadrian i a dutchman from utrecht who reigned from 1522 to1523. In the considerable speculation in recent years Over successor to Pope Paul the names of several europeans have been cardinals and a number of aides who will attend the election conclave Are literally locked up in the Vali i a Flam Mem him a a italian front runner from left Cardinal Pironio Koenig and Willebrand. 1-11 can until they agree on a new Pope. Corridors stairways and doors leading to the sistine Chapel where the voting takes place and the conclave its adjoining living quarters All Are sealed telephones Are disconnected and con tact with the outside world is strictly limited to carefully examined written messages. A Large number of Cooks waiters doctors dentists guards and others including carpenters Are locked up with the cardinals. All Are sworn to secrecy Over the proceedings with excommunication the penalty for breaking the oath. Among other thl Ngi strict precautions Wui Bein effect to prevent electronic eavesdropping. Four ballots a Day Are taken two in the morning an two in the afternoon until a decision is reached. At the voting sessions each Cardinal receives a ballot with the legend in latin i elect As High pontiff my very rever end Signor Cardinal. The cardinals in order of seniority Rise and bring their folded ballots to the altar at the base of Michelangelo s Gigantic Fresco of the last judgment. Each in turn drops his ballot into a Silver chalice that serves As a ballot Box kneels at the altar prays and rises to swear aloud i take to witness Christ our lord who is to judge me that i hereby vote for him who. Before god i feel should be Teller announces the results to the assembled Cardi nals giving totals received by each nominee. Another then strings the ballots on a thread using a Needle. If no Pope is chosen by the second ballot of each ses Sion the two strings of ballots Are bumped in a Small Iron stove with Damp Straw and chemicals that create a dense Lack smoke. Rising from a stovepipe at the roof of the the dark smoke signals to throngs in St. Peter s Square that the Church is still without a Pon once a Cardinal has obtained the needed votes he i asked whether he accepts the papacy and if so what name he will cardinals meantime lower canopies Over their seats in homage and the ballots arc burned in the stove with chemicals that produce a White smoke signifying to the outside world that a new Pope has been the formal Coronation takes place several Days later the elected Cardinal is officially the Pope from the moment he agrees to accept the office. Wearing new pontifical Robes the Pope then Appearson the Balcony of St. Peter s Basilica to impart his first Blessing Urbiet Orbi to the City and to the of the leading candidates in the balloting will be Giovanni Cardinal Benelly 56, who was Pope Paul s chief of staff until last year and is now archbishop of Florence. He was regarded As a Tough administrator who con trolled the curia for the Pope but he May have made too Many possibility is Sebastiano Cardinal Baggio. 64, head of the sacred congregation of Bishops. His weak Ness is that he has no territorial following. Sergio Cardinal Pignedoli 67, is president of the secretariat for non christians and is known around the world As a personable representative of the Vati can but his open ways Are suspected by some. Pericle Cardinal Felici 69, was Secretary general of the second Vatican Council 1962-65 and is said by some to be a favorite of conservatives in the acceptable to both italians and non ital ians is Eduardo Cardinal Pironio. 57. Head of the sacred congregation for religious. Perhaps because of his birth in Argentina he is often seen As one of the cardinals mos concerned with economic and social problems of the third Johannes Willebrands 69, is considered a conservative by some and entirely too ecumenical bothers perhaps because of the dissenting theology from his native Netherlands in the last 1969 he has headed the Vatican secretariat for promoting Christian Unity and has been the primate of the Netherlands since december 1975. Another non italian believed to have a Chance for the papacy is Franz Cardinal Koenig of Austria. While in the forefront of roman Catholic life for. Dec Ades these and other cardinals recently have been brought further into the Public Eye particularly i Europe and the United states by several books and Arti cles discussing the election of the next the United states the publishing House of sheed an Drews & Mcmeel issued a Book in july called the inner elite compiled by or. Gary Maceoin a noted roman Catholic writer. The Book was backed by a committee forthe responsible election of the Pope which urged a More open process of election. Wiki not Likely to have any Impact on the voting by the cardinals a copy was reportedly int to each one the Book does shed some Light on the religious and personal traits of dozens 0 leading Cardi Nal Maceoin wrote that it was unlikely that a non italia would be elected and he listed two favourites Cardinal Pignedoli More open and positive than Pope Paul and Cardinal Baggio very political minded very shrewd and very smooth. The stars and stripes Page 15
