ELECTION OF THE POPE.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 188, 27 January 1877, Page 2

ELECTION OF THE POPE.

Tim Pope was originally elected by the priests and people of the diocese of Home ; but subsequently by the Cardinals. In the lltii century, Nicholas IL. conferred on the Cardinals the right of directing the election ; and in accordance with his statutes, the Cardinals were bound to demand of the Roman people ami the Roman clergy the ratilication 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 the people of Rome. This manner, however, of electing the Pope was found to give rise to dissensions, and consequently in 152 G, on the accession ot Cregoiy IX., both the clergy and the people were excluded from all participation in the election. The election of Pope now is by scrutiny or ballot. Each Cardinal writes ins own name, with that of the candidate ho proposes on the ticket. The tickets are deposited in the consecrated chalice which stands on the altar of the chapel where they sit; and each one approaching and leaving 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 ot them has two-thirds of the votes in his favor, he is declared elected. If no one can show a 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 altering his ticket according to a prescribed form. As soon as the election is declared, the tickets are burnt. Pius IX., who is the 257 th Pope, was elected by unanimity. Only eight out of the sixty-one Cardinals wlio elected the present Pope arc still living, the eldest being Fillippo do Angeles, the first Cardinal priest, born on IGth of April, 1792. who is consequently four weeks older than the present pontiff.