The Helena Independent

Since the proposition was first made to elect Cardinal Gibbons to the papacy as a way around the difficulty of choosing a successor to Leo XIII, who shall not be offensive to either faction in the Italian hierarchy or to the king of Italy, it has been stated that those very considerations, and especially the last one, will necessitate the selection of an Italian. It is claimed that the elevation of a foreigner to the papacy would be considered by the Italian government as an evidence of hostility on the part of the church, and that it would be resented as such. On the other hand, it is thought there are several high dignitaries in the Italian hierarchy who would be unobjectionable to the Quirinal and to the church as well. As there is no vacancy in the Vatican, discussion of the selection of the next pope would appear premature were it not for the fact that Leo XIII is well known to be in a precarious condition of health and that his death may occur at any time, in which event churchmen recognize the necessity of a speedy election to fill the vacancy.