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Show CONCLAVE OF CARDINALS. Sittings May Begin, by the First of Next Month. Rome, July 21. According to a statement state-ment coming from a high ecclesiastic, arrangements at the Vatican are being pressed forward which will enable tne conclave of cardinals to begin sitting Aug. 1. However, it is now thought the sessions may last considerably longer than at first expected even long enough to permit Cardinal Moran of Sydney, N. S. W., to arrive in time to take part in the proceedings. An ambassador accredited to the Vatican says the question of Pope Leo's successor is a peculiarly open one at the present moment. ' The personality per-sonality of the candidates plays a much more important part than in any preceding conclave, since the conditions prevailing in the past are now entirely changed. Formerly the sacred college was divided into seven distinct parties. There was, first, that composed of the cardinals who were members of the great Roman families, nearly every one of which was represented in the college. col-lege. These always exerted very powerful influences in the election of a pope. At the present time there is only one scion of a great Roman house among the cardinals, namely, Cardinal Battista Casali del Drago. who, from the standpoint of the election or a new-pontiff, new-pontiff, is relatively unimportant. Oreglia Stands Alone. Then there were parties composed of cardinals appointed by the same pope, who usually ranged themselves into separate bodies. In addition to the members of the sacred college appointed appoint-ed by the pope who had then just passed away , there were usually considerable con-siderable numbers chosen by his predecessors, pre-decessors, and even a few nominated by the pope preceding him. In consequence conse-quence of Leo XIII's long reign these parties have entirely disappeared. In the present conclave there will be only one cardinal. Cardinal Oreglia, who was not appointed by Pope Leo. As a result of these changes the approaching approach-ing conclave will be much more under the influence of individual candidates than in the past, rendering it impossible impossi-ble to forecast the election with anv degree of certainty. It is considered highly probable that the new pope will be a man at present not thought of and not talked about. ' . . Conclave Will Be Short. The Tribuna today published an Interview In-terview with Cardinal Svampa, archbishop arch-bishop of Bologna, who, the paper says, has quite recovered from his stroke of paralysis. The cadrinal is quoted as saying: . . "I believe that the' conclave will be very short, as were the last two. At the utmost I think it may take one week, as now there does not exist in the sacred college the marked political differences of other times. Therefore it will be possible to arrive at an understanding un-derstanding more easily and quicker." The interviewer asked the cardinal what he thought the policy of the future fu-ture pope would be in regard to the so-called so-called Roman question. Will it remain rigidly unchanged, . or will the new-pope new-pope inaugurate a . modus ,. Vivendi, which many , persons -in both camps wish for? Cardinal. Svampa replied: Each Day Brings Changes. "No one today-can say w ith certainty " anything'About it. But it must not be foagotten that whoever is elected will I bring something personal into the attitude atti-tude .of the holy -,see-regarding, that ' question, something' which more or less must differentiate from the attitude or' the former pope. Besides, every historical his-torical fact of great importance Drings ! with it changes which ameliorate or aggravate pre-existing conditions. Every sunrise of each new day throws fresh light on men and things." i A,t this mornings session of the congregation con-gregation of cardinals Mgr. Merry del Val, the first apostolic delegate to Canada, was provisionally appointel secretary of the consistorial congregation, congrega-tion, replacing the late Mgr. Volponi. This probably will be followed by making mak-ing the provisional appointment permanent. per-manent. The position of secretary of the consistorial con-sistorial congregation has additional importance sin'-e it will lead to the nomination of Mgr. Merry del Val as cardinal by the new pope. |