THE NEW POPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1922, Page 5

THE NEW POPE.

A SELECTION MADE. MAN OF GREAT CULTURE. SPORTSMAN CARDINAL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright London, Feb. 6. The Exchange Telegraph Agency announces that Cardinal Ratti has been elected Pope. He takes the name of Pius XI. Other sources confirm the news.

The new Pope, Achilles Ratti, was born in 1857 and ordained priest in. 1879. He has had a distinguished career as an educationalist and ecclesiastic. Possessing great culture, he served successively as a prefect of the famous Ambrosian library in Milan, and proprefect of the Vatican library. He won the special confidence of the Pope, who sent him to Poland in April, 1918, as an Apostolic visitor, becoming Apostolic Nuncio. When Poland became a republic he rendered humane services in securing the release of prisoners from Russia. Cardinal Ratti is regarded as a sportsman and has gained fame as an Alpinist, and is a member of the Italian Alpine Club.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Rome, Feb. 6. Eight times the conclave of Cardinals passed a vote and four time wisps of black smoke ascended, informing the waiting throngs that they were still without a Pope. The crowds were ever increasing, as if the whole world had gathered in the square. Should Monday’s smoke be white the surge of people to the Basilica to hear the new Pope is likely to result in casualties. to meet which ambulances and first-aid stations have installed in the Square.—Times Service. SYSTEM OF ELECTION. PLEA FOR A CHANGE. Received Feb. 7, 7J35 p.m. Rome, Feb. 6. Cardinal O’Cannell arrived by a special train just too late to participate in the election. He expected to repeat his strongly expressed regret in 1914 that the existing rules do not allow trans-Atlantic cardinals to vote a® tne Papal election. This time he may make a formal plea for a -change in the Papal constitu.ion. Cardinal Ratti occupied the position of ecclesiastical commissioner in the Upper Silesian plebiscite area at the unanimous request of Germany, Poland and the inter-Allied Commission. He obtained a cardinal’s hat at last year’s consistory.

The Pope has re-appointed Cardinal Gasparri as Secretary of State.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. BLESSING THE CROWD. POPE BREAKS PRECEDENT. Received Feb. 7, 7.35 p.m. Rome, Feb. 6. Cardinal Ratti was elected on the thirteenth ballot, receiving 38 votes. The new Pope, breaking all precedents, instead of blessing the huge crowd from the balcony over a side street, did so from a balcony overlooking the square. He thrice blessed the people and Italian troops presented arms.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.