ELECTION OF THE POPE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2547, 6 March 1877, Page 3

ELECTION OF THE POPE.

; The Pope was originally elected by the priests and people of the diocese of Rome; but subsequently by the Cardinals. In the 11th century, Nicholas 11. conferred ou the Cardinals the right of directing the election; and in accordance with his statutes, the Cardinals were bound to demand of the Roman people and the JRoman clergy the ratification of; their choice. To legalise the election, it was necessary that the same 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 1526, on the accession of Gregory 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 wrii.es his own name with that of the candidate he 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 of them has two-thirds of the votes in his favor, he is declared elected. If no one can show requisite number of votes, another proceeding is gone through. This proceeding is the election by access, so called because any Cardinal has 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 burot. Pius IX., who is tho 257 th Pope, was elected by unanimity. Only eight of the sixty-one Cardinals who elected the present Pope are still living, the eldest being Fillipo de Angeles, the first Cardinal priest, bom on 19th of April, 1792, who is consequently four weeks older than the present pontiff.