The Next Pope a Foreigner
By Editor
THE leaders in the Catholic Church, according to influential European papers, are very much exercised over the question of the successor of Pius X. It is said that Pius X came to the pontifical throne with an idea that the cardinals ought to be distributed with some approach to equality among the nations of the world. Germany, it is said, will not tolerate any further discrimination against herself in the distribution of cardinals' hats, and she thinks that America has altogether too many cardinals. The fact that there is a prospect that the next pope will not hail from Italy is solidifying all the factions to unite upon keeping their College of Cardinals in proper shape to insure the continuance of Italian popes. But we know, according to the prophetic Word, that all the world is finally to bow to the papal power; and, it is truly significant to study, in connection with this prophecy, the strong currents that have set in to make the papal power popular in all the nations of the world, and not only to make it popular, but to give it the balance of power in political control. And when it has the balance of power, it will before a great while become the chief power itself. This is a question of fact and prophecy, and its study is as important for our Catholic friends as it is for Protestants. Dogmatisms and prejudices should not enter into our consideration of so great a theme, and especially since God has clearly spoken upon the subject.